THE LICENSING LAW.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 172, 20 July 1916, Page 8

THE LICENSING LAW.

PROHIBITIONIST -AGITATION.

RESENTED BY THE TRADE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Amalgamated Licensed Victuallers' Association to-day passed the follGwing resolutions':— (1) That the agitation directed against the licensed trade by prohibitionists is unpatriotic, unreasonable, and unwarrantable; (a) unpatriotic, because it is tending to create class prejudice" and embitter feeling among different sections of the community at a time when all should be in accord to overthrow the enemy, (b) unreasonable, in that it would violate the pledge or '"scrap of paper" given by the people at the ballot box in 1914. when, by an overwhelming majority, the electors declared against any interference with the licensing system until at least 1917; (c) and unwarrantable, in that any interference with the licensing system now would be in direct opposition to the voice and mandate of the people, and a violation of the pledge given by the people at the last elections to the trade."

'•(2) That relying upon' the declared will of the people, members of the trade have entered into rebuilding and various other contracts, and any alteration in the hours oi licensing now would not only be contrary to the people's pledge to the trade, but woulu involve the trade in incalculable loss.' .

"(3) That in view of the evidence of the Minister for Defence himself and his responsible advisers, Colonels Potter . and Adams, there is absolutely no military necessity for the agitation for any alteration in the present licensing law. either by proclamation or otherwise." . ALLIANCE RESOLUTIONS. LEGISLATION OR REFERENDUM. Wellington, weanesflay. The New Zealand Alliance to-day adopted the following resolution: — . "That we are strengthened in our conviction of the need for the six o'clockclosing of liquor bars during the war period by every jfhase of evidence which comes before us; having had correspondence with the Mayors of 60 of the largest boroughs in the Dominion, and having received answers from 50 of them, and finding that while 13 of them prefer not to give a specific answer, only six are opposed and 2fl are heartily in favour of closing at six. we further urge upon the Government the great national duty of legislating at once to secure the closing of bars at 6 p.m., or else to provide for a referendum hv which,, the people can decide for sixseven, eight, nine, or ten as the closing hour, which decision may become effective without a day's unnecessary delay."