THE RETAIL TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 270, 12 November 1909, Page 3

THE RETAIL TRADE.

' zilan'd' !' ii 161 " ( P resident °f the New VI u,Ji >T aS the Auckla °d Licensed the de , Assoclati ™>- who was one of viewfn , gateS t0 -lien inter-J-ewed by a representative of the "Auck- ; and Star" this m ornin „ 6aid: , r ,™ ' trr 1 BS more suitable, a ike to the general public (including the -No-hcense party) and the licensed trade, and whilst one of the suggested issues is • contused .by consistency and inconsistj encr we should be in a better position to ootain a more genuine vote on the question than hitherto. I regret that the issue has been so confused, and would have preferred to have seen provision made for local prohibition as well as Dominion prohibition. Seeing, however that such contingencies were not acceptable in the negotiations for a compromise, there is still left the fact that the strong, vindictive, and spiteful vote which has hitherto been a prominent feature, will in all probability be more or less minimised, and I anticipate that with the elimination of the reduction issue, and improved organisation, better results on the broad principles of the whole question are more likely to be obtained." THE XEW PROPOSALS. MEMBERS RETICENT. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. There is a reticence among members in regard to the local option proposals of the Government, as already announced, that can only be regarded as significant. Almost, in fact, it would seem that there is among them a distrust of the proposals, although no one approached on the subject has put such a suggestion into words. It is evident, however, that there is a feeling among some members, and more particularly among members who take a keen interest in licensing legislation, that they should have been consulted on the subject; that no matter what the "trade" and the Alliance and the Government decided upon as a reasonable working agreement, the members have still to be consulted, and as they in most cases have been returned pledged to a certain course of action on such matters, that those pledges will have to be carried out. On the other hand, it is pointed out that the proposal outlined is now made a feature of the Government's policy, and that when the bill comes down the Government will be in the position of being able to call on its supporters to uphold that policy. The situation will be interesting, but members are sceptical as to whether any licensing legislation will be placed on the Statute Book this session.

A caucus meeting of Government supporters will, it is understood, be held on Tuesday morning for the purpose of considering the proposed licensing legislation. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' VIEWS. The fact that Mr Palmer, of Auckland (representing the general body of licensed victuallers in New Zealand), agreed to the terms outlined by the Premier, gives a rough idea of the attitude of the ''trade." To-day a prominent member of the Wellington Licensed Victuallers' Association was asked for his opinion of the reported compromise. "It is a fair thing." he replied. "If the people want prohibition, let them have it. Let us be done with it one way or the other." He remarked that he had at first been doubtful about two or three points in the proposals, but after studying them, he was satisfied that if the recommendations became law they would be fairer all round than the present state of the law.

THE FIVE YEARS' GRACE. FINANCIAL REASON'S FOR DELAY. (By Telegraph. — Press Association.) BUXEDIX, Thursday. In conversation with an "Otago Daily Times" reporter to-night. Mr A. S. Adams, well known as one of the leaders of the no-license movement, said that the main reason for the five years' delay in national prohibition was that on prohibition being carried the whole of the Dominion revenue derived from liquor would be struck off. and as the Minister for Finance would have to effect readjustments to the extent of £500,000 or £000,----000 for a few years until the new condition of affairs had had time to assert itself and the revenue from the increased consumption of other articles would amount to a sufficient sum to replace the revenue from liquor, it was considered fair to fix such a time limit. The concession was. he said, valuable to the "trade." because it would give brewers and licensees time to dispose of stocks and seek new investments for capital. Mr Adams said the bill ought to pro\-ide very fully against the possibility of reckless trading by licensees during the period of suspension, in the event of no-license being carried. A VICTORY FOR THE TRADR "My opinion." remarked Mr. J. H. Gunson ! secretary to the Band of Business Men), "is that the Trade might we'! congratulate themselves on the so-called compromise. Without doubt they have got to windward of the temperance parte in the negotiations and badly beaten them. Firstly, with reference to the 55 per cent majority proposition: This phase would have been better left as it was, if the democratic principle of lore majority was not to be enforced. Tlie small reduction is calculated to weaken the efforts of the no-license voters, inasmuch as they will be inclined to rest on their oars, thinking that it is practically the tiare majority they have gained. With tiie 00 per cent handicap in the past, the spur to effort on the part of 1.0-license voters has been very great. With rpgard to the reduction i=sue. I think most people of both parties will be pleased to se<- it deleted. It was 'confusing to voters, and not much aid to true reform. It is now a question of ' for ' or 'cgainst' —no half - way house A voter will now be either liquor or temperance. With reference to

the loss of revenue to the State in the event of Dominion prohibition being carried, it is quite true that the amount looks a large one, but the fact must not be lost sight of that there is a contra account in the shape of tire cost of hospitals, gaols, asylums, courts and charitable institutions. Experience has shown a decrease in expenditure under these heads in all no-license areas. Personally, I cannot see why, after th- 1 people have declared by carrying national prohibition that they do not want fie goods of a certain trade, fiv-. years should elapse before effect is given to the people's will. The same applies to the term of two years allowed, before closing the hotels, after No-license has been carried in any district."