LOCAL OPTION SYSTEM.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13545, 5 October 1909, Page 8

LOCAL OPTION SYSTEM.

REFORMS URGED

A meeting to consider various suggested reforms relating to the local option system was held in His Majesty's Theatre last night. The Rev. R. S. Gray presided, and there was a large attendance of the public, the hall being filled to overflowing. The Chairman, who was received with applause, said that the strength of public opinion was with those urging the reforms. t . Mr A. S. Adams, of Dunedin, proposed the first motion:—''That this meeting of citizens of Christchurch affirms that the time has now come when (1) all questions at the licensing polls should be decided by bale majority vote, and when (2) a Dominion option vote should be taken trienniaily in addition to the local option vote, and urges upon Government and Parliament, its respectful demand for immediate legislation to secure these reforms." He said that the No-license party were now within reach of complete and final victory. (Loud applause.) Ihe No-iicense vote was a progressive and cumulative vote, aud victory would have to come. The vote at present was 225,000 strong, larger, in tact, than the vote on which the present Government remained in power, and the No-license party were therefore entitled to demand the reforms they advocated. (Applause.) Public on.nion, however, was more and more in favour of the bare majority system as regards the local option po_s. and politicians and newspapers were gradually coming round. , Mr J. McCombs, who seconded th© motion, said that thirty years ago Sir George Grey, one of New Zealand's greatest statesmen, had 6tumped the country to arouse public opinion to do away with plural voting, and on platform after platform he contended for tho rights of men as against the rights of property and vested interests. It remained for a later Liberal Government to depart from tho traditions of Liberalism, and to fetter the people's vote for the protection of vested liquor interests. The three-fifths majority provision meant that 50 per cent., or 91,000 votes, were in effect added to the actual vote cast for continuance, for that was the number of votes the No-license party would have to poll in excess of tlie continuance vote before they could win. After twenty years of strenuous fighting, the temperance party was now the dominant party in New Zealand, with a gross majority of 33.000 votes, and an absolute majority of 28,450 votes, yet with that enormous Dominion majority for No-license only 16 per cent, or the electorates were under No-license. The theoretical victory was with tho Nolicense party, but the practical victory was with the liquor party. ; The motion was then put and carried unanimously, amid applause. The Rev. L. M. Isitt then moved: — "That the members of this meeting express their deep indignation at the violation of the solemn promise given to the natives by the New Zealand Government, that no liquor licenses should ever be granted in the "King Country. They call upon the of every section of th© Christian Church and all Press editors and members of Parliament, to whom the welfare of the Maori race and the honovr of this nation is dear, to urge the Government to at once annul the licenses granted, and to remedy this evil." Ho said that the No-license party were never more united or so determined to push tlie battle to ultimate victory as they wero at the present . time. (Applause.) Mr leitt then referred to the establishing of liquor depots in the King Country, and claimed it was the I duty of the people to spare no effort ' until the wrong then done was righted, and the liquor depots closed up. The matter was one which affected not a single party but the whole people. The granting of th© licenses in the King Country was the outcome and crowning act of a scheme carefully laid and engineered by the liquor people. He believed that the Government were opposed to the granting of the licenses and would be prepared to abolish them if they had the support of the people. Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., who seconded the said ho had no doubt that when the time came Parliament would prohibit the sale of liquor in tho King Country. (Applause.) The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Dr. Orchard then proposed a motion to the effect that regular and syste-, matic instruction should be given in State schools on the physiological effects of alcohol upon tho human system. The motion was seconded by Mrs Cole (president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union), and carried, and th© meeting closed, with the singing of the National Anthem.