STATE OR MUNICIPAL CONTROL

Press, Volume L, Issue 14988, 8 June 1914, Page 8

STATE OR MUNICIPAL CONTROL

VIEWS OF TWO PROMINENT LIBERALS. (SPECIAL TO ' : THE I'JIESS.") GLSBORNE, June 6. At a political meeting held at Makuri, Sir James Carroll and Mr W. D. S. MacDonakl, M.P.'s, declared themselves against the reduction to 53 per cent, on the licensing question. Sir James said such a proposal was only trifling with tho question, and the only real solution in his mind was State control. To adopt the oo per cent, majority was only dealing with the question in a piecemeal way, and -rvould lead to dissension. A bare majority for No-liconso woulcT give the sanio advantage to tho other side, and would not send the fight. He had yet to learn that No-license meant .no liquor. The State should be the only importer and vendor of liquor. If they desired a change lie would bo prepared to do away with the local option iesno and have a straight-out vqto on national prohibition with the 55 per cent. Mr MacDonakl stated tluit at the 1911 election he had pledged himself to tho three-fifths majority, and ho did not intend to go back on that plf>dgo. He favoured municipal control, and considered that many roforms of the liquor trade could be carried out apart from No-liceuse.