LICENSING REFORM.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18486, 14 September 1925, Page 9

LICENSING REFORM.

QUESTION OP AROUSING INTEREST. (Published by Arrangement.) Judging from the experience of the organisers of tho N.Z. licensing Reform Association in the Dominion, tho question of the reform of tho present licensing legislation is receiving careful and intelligent attention from a very large body of electors throughout New Zealand. It seems to be felt that the time has very decidedly arrived when tho Government should pay attention to this important question, and the fact that the Prime Minister has promised that some measure, at least, of licensing reform shall be brought down next session, if he remains in power, gives hope that these improvements in the licensing law will be made in the very near future.

The organiser for Canterbury and Westland, Mr W. YV". Dunsterville. has already secured tho election of s-trong committees in Oxford. Kaiapoi, and Rangiora, and will continue with the work until committees arc appointed in all the electorates.

On Tuesday evening a well-attended meeting of the Oxford committee was held at Oxford, when matters in connexion with the movement were discussed. Tho committee in this centre is as follows: —Messrs G. Smith (chairman), P. Garlick, F. Debenham. G. Capstick. W. J. Thompson, J. YVothevspoon, E. Thompson, B. Glew, E. lessen, and E. C; Barnes, secretary. It was resolved: "That the Oxfordbranch of the N.Z. Licensing Reform Association records its strong protest against the action of the Prohibition Party in seeking to pledge supporters to vote irrespective of Party at the forthcoming elections and only for such candidates as pledge themselves in favour of Prohibition. 'VThflo tho Association seeks no pledge itself, it recognises the necessity of using every legitimate means to secure the return to Parliament of men who will deal with the licensing question in the best interest of the whole people and free from the domination of any particular and intolerant section of tho commur nity." It was further resolved: "That this meeting: of the Oxford branch of the N.Z. Licensing Reform Association calls upon the Government to introduce _at the earliest opportunity rts promised measure of licensing reform, as recommended by several Parliament-" ary Committees after long and careful consideration, many of the proposals of which reports ■ were supported on several occasions by large and influential deputations from the N.Z. Licensing Refonn. Association and kindred associations."

The personnel of the committees at Kaiapoi and Rangiora is as follows: Kaiapoi: Dr. Maxwell Ramsey, Messrs W. Doubleday, M. O'Donohue. T. P. Mably, W. R. Coup, L. P, Hopkins, E. Monk, G. March, and J. A. Mealings, secretary; Rangiora: Rev. J. F. Feron. Messrs R. Mcintosh, C. Leech, C. Tyler, H. Tallott, F. Horrell, A. J. Tatton, H. Heaney, T. Shankland, and L. W. Haxley, secretary. On Wednesday evening a very successful Bmoke concert was held afc Oxford under the auspices of the local club. Among the large attendance, which included visitors from Kaiapoi and Christchurcb., was Archdeacon F. N. Taylor, chairman of the Christchurch committee of the Licensing Reform Association.

Corporate Control. Archdeacon Taylor addressed the gathering on the aims of the Licensing Reform Association, which, he said, had/two main planks in its platform. One was the immediate reform of the drink traffic as at present conducted. This was urgently needed, as friend and foe would agree, and it was not right to postpone such reform until Prohibition or State Control or any •dther radical change could be brought about. The present Prime Minister had definitely promised to introduce a Licensing .Reform Bill next session in the event of bis being returned with a majority at the election and jt was devoutly to be hoped that if tn» "other fellow" got in h same. Either- side would bo consider ablv encouraged to do so if a Jf&* numbm of votes could be recorded tor Xe Control at the forthcoming: £ forendum. TbA increase, of «*« would, to a certain «JenVgdiMte the very large number of cQ»»™ though not .believing m **££*}£ yet were insistent upon the neea i°r then proceeded to outline the proposal for -tiie control the trade which is now ,&*%£& known by tbo !a S out Control." It arose, he *&*™% lins of a challenge issue*. by to those Anglicans who «^ n no f.^' 6 t o in Prohibition calling uponJhem to put forward some drast* temperance reform. lhre ® r&J ha d and'one thereupon put their hea °f. t r b aft^r and formulated a scheme which, ag careful consideration and certem moa fications was now before *ne puouc afan important -.suggestion for.the Slution of *» most urgent and h^hnoU^ty]hT|^ r^ erties, the brewers and the S P™ chants. This p an. *»*««£ best possible business' while gaining effective contrd lor Government * ffij***** «„„. people of Jnew Zieaiana. « Sent would also receive ment, one fifth of the total number or Sat &&F&&SZ to give all the details of this sche^ J-J3B. uied it. He thought it was tl» <»v CTerv fair-minded citizen, to ex anunT&s Seme with the f duT to any honest attempt to deal with aproHem which vataily affects the well-being of the people. At the dote of his trluA was listened to wiA *«. **«"«* £ tentkm, Archdeacon Taylor was; arcorded a-wy.hearty vote «f thanks.