THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 5

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

DEPUTATION TO MR. SAVAGE. M.P. LSUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO ACT. With the idea of gaining an expression of opinion from him on the question of the liquor traffic, a deputation representative of Auckland West waited on M.\ M. J. Savage. M.P.. at the Leys Institute last night. Mr. F. Garland introduced the speakers. The speakers were Mr. W. Parkinson, the Rev. J. Olphert,' and the Rev. Fraser Parton, who expressed themselves strongly in opposition to certain proposals for amendment of the Licensing Act, and submitted counter-amendments, for which the prohibitoin party ia contending. The deputation, it was stated, opposed: (1) Any extension of the time between the licensing polls; (2) any extension of licenses beyond June 30 next succeeding the date of °- poll at which national prohibition is carried; (3) any increase or redistribution of licenses; (4) any provision for granting removal of licenses beyond the limits now permitted by law; (5) any increase in the facilities for the manufacture, importation and sale of alcoholic liquors; (6) the appointment of licensing boards or other authority, being substituted for the election of licensing committees; (7) any alteration to the law which now provides that the licensing poll be taken on the same day as the general election. The deputation urged amendments to the Licensing Act to give effect to the following proposals: (1) That no alcoholic liquor shall be supplied to hotel guests or otherwise during the hours when the sale of liquor to the general public is prohibited; (2) that no licensed premises shall be permitted to have more than one bar; (3) that protection from alcoholic liquors be afforded to the natives of the King Country in accordance with the pact made on the opening of that territory; (4) that provision be made for the conviction of any person who purchases for or supplies any youth under 21 years of age with intoxicating liquor (5) that section 35, sub-clause (c), of the 1908 Licensing Act be amended so as to make it definite whether posters and placards erected prior to the day of the poll can remain in sight on polling day. The deputation further urged amendments to the Legislature Act to give effect to the following proposals: (1) Enrolment of electors in precincts or polling booth areas; X 2) enrolment of electors exclusively through Government officials; (3) voting in precincts or polling booth areas; (4) absentee voting on permit only. It was strongly urged that the ballot paper at the next licensing referendum should contain two issues only—national continuance and national prohibition. It was further requested that section 64 of the Licensing Act, 1918, should be repealed in order that the people might have an opportunity to vote again on the question after prohibition had been carried and had a fair trial. In reply, Mr. Savage said his task was 1 an easy one, because he had been over • the same ground many times before. He ■ had met previous deputations prior to > elections, and the story was the same > one told in the same way. Most of them I knew that the Labour representatives ! were pledged to the people. He relied i on the people in preference to the indil vidual, and he would say that no possible change would be made in the licensing question if he could help it, without it going to the people. Those who should decide the question had the power in their own hands. The ballot paper was wrong, and always had been, and as long jas there were more than two questions ;J it should be decided by preferential yot- : ing. The Labourites were, it seemed to : him, the only democrats in the field, and . they could rely on him, whether he won ; or lost, to go to the House and fight for , principles, and that was that all ques--1 tions should be decided by the people ', when they wanted it. Dealing with the i King Country natives, the speaker said : he was of the opinion that a vote should be taken of the Maoris to see if they ' considered themselves bound by the j act made in the days of old. Concluding, Mr. Savage said the people could still carry prohibition if they wanted to, despite the. fact that there were three issues. His party was bound to see that no alteration was made against the will of the people, and they could rely on it that he would not shift his ground even if it meant defeat. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Savage. j