Branch Anticipates Alliance’s Petition

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29903, 17 August 1962, Page 12

Branch Anticipates Alliance’s Petition

4 from Our Parliamentary Reporter I

WELLINGTON, August 16.

By sending its list of signatures direct to the Speaker of the House of Representatives instead of .to the New Zealand Alliance, the Christchurch Central Women’s Christian Temperance Union has anticipated a collective petition which the Alliance plans to present to Parliament.

This petition for a new ballot paper to determine voters’ views on the sale of liquor was presented to Parliament today.

The president and secretary. Mrs Emily Gladys Hunt, and 10 other members of the Christchurch Central branch of the union signed the petition, which was presented by Mr R. M Macfarlane (Opposition, Christchurch Central). An officer and former

superintendent of the Alliance (Mr H. W. Milner) said this evening that printed copies of the petition had been sent to all ministers of Protestant churches and temperance unions. .

Hundreds of copies had been returned to the alliance headquarters some bearing more than 100 signatures, he said. The date first fixed for their return was August 15. The Christchurch petition reached the Speaker, not the Alliance, right on time.

The petitioners claim that the national baUot paper is ill-suited to ascertain the real will of the people, because three differing issues appear on the present paper, and because present legislation provides that even if 50 of 100 voters vote for prohibition, 40 for Sts*., purchase and only 10 for continuance, continuance wiU be carried.

They also assert that as State purchase and control retains the profit motive it is not an effective er acceptable reform, and that as trust control has proved popular a ballot paper in two parts would be more acceptable and more acurate in assessing the will of the people. Part one should have the alternatives: “I vote for continuance” and “I vote for prohibition.” Part two should have the alternatives: “I vote for Dominion trust control." and “I vote against Dominion trust control."

The Alliance’s petition will be presented later in this session of Parliament and its organisers hope that its recommendations will be heeded in the preparation of new licensing legislation. It seems likely that this advance copy will be reserved for consideration by the Select Committee for Public Petitions until then.

Cabbages Plentiful

Winter cabbages were plentiful in Christchurch produce markets yesterday. At 4s to 12s 6d a sack they were also slightly cheaper than last week. They are selling for Is to Is 6d each in the shops. Leeks were scarce and sold for 9s to 16s a case in the markets and for Is 6d a bunch in the shops.