THE LICENSING LAW.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 253, 23 October 1909, Page 7

THE LICENSING LAW.

XO LEGISLATION THIS SESSION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Replying,to a deputation representing the New Zealand Alliance, urging certain reforms in the licensing law,, the Premier : said he thought it was only right for him to say that nothing in the way of legislation would be done this session. Representations made to him would be considere'J with a view of legislation next session? The bare majority questions and Dominion vote were big proposals, and he fully recognised there was a strong feeling in the matter. He was in sympathy with the cause of temperance reform, but those questions would have to receive very careful consideration before the Government could arrive at a definite conclusion. The Government had always kept before it the question of what would happen if Dominion No-license were carried apart altogether from the question whether it was desirable. Last year the country received £783,104 revenue from the importation of wines, spirits, and beer, and in the event of Dominion Prohibition being carried, about two-thirds, of tihat amount would have to be provided by means of taxation of the same kind. It would mean a tremendous change in our system of internal taxation. With regard to the locker system the Premier said he quite agreed that legislation should be brought in to put a.n end to the existing sitkte of things, wlhich. wae undesirable as a substitute for the former system in places where no-iicense had been carried.