LICENSING QUESTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8690, 16 October 1913, Page 2

LICENSING QUESTION.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREFER

ALTERATION OF LAW OPPOSED

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, October 15

A large deputation, representative of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers' Association and the wholesale and retail trade generally, was introduced to the Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, by Mr J. Bollard, member for Eden, this evening.

Mr Bollard said that the deputation was desirous of maintaining the present licensing law unaltered, and favoured the retention of the three-fifths majority on all issues as a margin of safety to secure stability and security. Every electorate was represented in the delegation.

Mr J. Beveridge read a lengthy statement in which their argument's against the 55 per cent, and bare majorities were elaborated. They deemed it advisable not only from tneir own point of view, but from the standpoint of the country, that no change should bo made in the existing law, and they reminded Mr Massey that three years ago he declared against. any reduction of the three-fifths majority because it had secured stability. "We respectfully suggest that no attempt should be made _by your Government to alter the existing law in the direction of reducing the three-fifths majority to 55 per cent, until you are convinced that the public demand for such a change is so strong and united that you, as head of the Government, are not justified in refusing the representatives of the people an opportunity to give expression to their opinions on the subject one way or the other." The demand for reduction, they submitted, did not represent in any sense a popular mandate with thr> full weight of public opinion behind it, but was largely the clamour of irresponsible extremists. The reduction "could not possibly be granted without introduction to our legislation and our social, commercial ?nd finarcial .system of a dangerous element of insecurity and instability that could not fail 'to react disastrously upon the public welfare and to imperil the material and political prospects of our country." The effect of reducing the three-fifths majority to so narrow a margin of superiority as is represented by 55 per cent, of the total votes polled would mean that either no-license might be established or the licensed trade might be restored by the vote of an extremely small section of the voters polling in each constituency or throughout "'the Dominion, and that majority, small as it would be. would not of necessity represent anything like a majority of the electors actually entitled to vote. National prohibition would mean a disastrous loss to the brewers, spirit merchants, hotelkeepers, and the thousands employed who, of course, deserved no more consideration than others carrying on a legitimate trade, but they deserved no less.

bir Masses in Reply. The Hon. W. F. Massey, in reply, expressed pleasure at. meeting the deputation and hearing their representations on this important question. It was of importance to the whole community and of especial importance to that section known as " tne trade," inasmuch as they were all interested, financially and otherwise. He had received a number of deputations on this subject, and to these • deputations he had not been able to say positively whether legislation would be introduced during the present session or not. It would not be fair to his colleagues if he said so at the moment, but he would say that in case of. legislation being introduced this year or next session it would not be considered a party question. In case they -decided to bring down legislation, no pressure would be brought to bear on any member of the House to vote in any particular direction. Each member wbuld be expected to vote according to the pledges he had with his constituents. The end of \,he session was approaching, and the Ministry would very soon, probably within a week, make public its decision. "We expect to finish the session about the end of November;" he said. "If wo decide to introduce licensing legislation during the present session our decision will be made known in a few days." In view of what had taken' place he could not give them a definite answer whether legislation would be introduced, but their representations, which would be conveyed to Cabinet, would be given that consideration to which they -were undoubtedly entitled.