CLUBS FEAR PROHIBITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 166, 14 July 1914, Page 6

CLUBS FEAR PROHIBITION.

WOULD RUIN INSTITUTIONS. .DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. (Uy Telegraph. I'ress Association.) WKU.INI'TUX. this day. Tlic licencing qur-ti..ii and proposed legislation dealing with the three-fifths majority were the subject of another deputation to the I'rcmier to-,lay. The deputation, which represented over forty i-li'lm throughout New Zealand, with 11 nitmlierslii-i of over twenty thousand, a-ke.l for maintenance of' tbe tbreeliftlis majority. The -pc.ikers were Mr W. liridson 1 Wellington 1. Mr T. li. William- iWunjiiitiuii. and Mr I-'. Karl (Auckland). It »a~ pointed out that the deputation represented 11 huge sect.oll of that moderate .■lenient in the cciiiiniinity which was nrv.-r Liivcu any voice in proposals brought forward by the prohibition party'. 111,1 the Trade.' Tlic deputation entered a -trong protc-t against the ma nncr in which amendments to the law were i-arricd mil solely between tin- brewing intete-t- and the no-liquor party. The liuniu-i.il arrangements of clubs bad I n lia-rd a good deal mi revenue derived from the sale of liquor. and great linatteial di-turbailcc would 11-tilt if liquor were prohibited. 1 1 -'■cine,l to tlicui outrageous that proposal should he pill forward capable of destroying club- a< social institutions. Then there was the entertainment of distinguished -t ranger-, and if clubs were to be -wept away they would have a very drab life in the community. The Premier said thai he was unable tn -ay what the result of the Licensing Rill would be At the moment then; were diirerences of opinion even among members of the Mini-try. When the bill came up foe it- second reading lie would present the views of tlic deputation to the House.