LICENSING REFORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 185, 7 August 1925, Page 5

LICENSING REFORM.

AND AGAINST PROHIBITION. A LARGE DEPUTATION. REPLY BY THE PREMIER. (By - fress Association. X WELLINGTON, this day. A large deputation, representing the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association, waited on the Prime Minister this morning. Archdeacon Williams. Dominion president, urged that the Government should carry out a promise made by Mr. Massey in 1922 that Parliament would deal , with licensing legislation. The associa- j tion had decided to oppose candidates j who pledged themselves to the NewZealand Alliance. (.anon .Tames (Auckland! put forward claims for corporate control and urged retention of the third issue on the ballot paper. On behalf of the Moderate League. Mr. W. Perry urged that America was not a good example of prohibition. Four causes of unfavourable features sur- I rounding the licensing system in New Zealand were insecurity of tenure, fictitious values, lack of departmental control, and limited powers of licensing committees. Representatives of the wholesale trade, the New Zealand Licensed Victual- j lers" Association, and Associated Clubs , of New Zealand also spoke against pro- j hibition and urged the Governmet to introduce legislation at once. Mr. Coates, in reply., stated that the Government would introduce legislation, but he could not promise that the bill would come down this session The matter was before Cabinet.