PROHIBITION MOVEMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 9

PROHIBITION MOVEMENT

DOMINION CONFERENCE.

SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS.

LICENSING AMENDMENTS WANTED

(By Telegraph.—Orn Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

About one hundred delegates attended the annual meeting of the New Zealand Alliance. Mr. Charles Todd presided, and said it was one of the most representative gatherings the prohibition movement had had.

In the official report of the conference's proceedings it was stated t,hat the alliance estimates that New Zealand's jdrink bill for 1927 will reach a total of very nearly £9,000,000, an increase of over half a million. Statistics of drunkenness show that in 1926 the totai convictions were 748 C, as against 8106 in 1925, a reduction of 620. It is held to be significant that the convictions for drunkenness rise and fall almost in sxact proportion to the consumption of absolute alcohol. In 1926 the estimated consumption of absolute alcohol was 5.89 pints per head, which shows a -eduction as compared with 1925. when it was 6.14. Prohibition orders for the vear 1926 reached a total of 1633, an increase of 87 over 1925. Attention is directed to the frequency of motor accidents in which alcohol is a factor, and the report states that the responsibility for the sanctioning of the traffic which is responsible for this rests upon society as a whole.

The general secretary presented the -eport on licensing legislation and nolitical action, and in the course of the Q nsuing - discussion the following resowere carred:—■

"That the New Zealand Alliance reaffirm the. cardinal principle that the continuance or abolition of the liquor *raffic must be determined in accordance with the expressed will of the simple imajority of the electors who record their votes. ~

• "That the New Zealand Alliance renew *ts demand for the removal from the ballot paper of the discredited issue of Purchase and Control.

"That the New Zealand Alliance use °very endeavour to secure facilities f<r*he passage into law this session of a bilJ nrovidinsr for the adoption of a two'ssue ballot paper.

"That the New Zealand Alliance strenuously oppose any proposal to make -etrospective provision for the grant of licenses in respect to premises that, owing to the changes in electoral boundaries, have been included in a No-

jlicense district and in consequence of such inclusion have lost tlieir licenses and subsequently have been included in a license district. ,

"That the New Zealand Alliance, in pursuance of its policy of striving to minimise the evils associated with the liquor traffic, (1) demand that it be made an offence either to drink any intoxicating liquor or to allow any intoxicating liquor to be consumed upon any premises licensed for use as a hall or cabaret for dancing; (2) oppose the extension of the facilities for the sale of liquor proposed in clause 30 of the 1927 Bill, and demand that it be made an offence to supply intoxicating liquolto any person during the hours for which licensed premises are required to be closed; (3) oppose the proposal contained in Clause 9 of the 1927 Bill enable licensing committees to authorise the use of one or more private bars in addition to one public bar, and demand that no part of any licensed premises shall be permitted to lie used for the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor other than one authorised bar; (4) demand that Section 162 of the Licensing Act, 1908, be amended by substituting the words 'at any time while the licensed premises are required to be •dosed' for the words 'after the hour of eleven at night."'