THE ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR ACT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1036, 1 June 1894, Page 6

THE ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR ACT.

—■♦ Discussing the Alcoholic Liquor Act with the deputation which brought before him the resolutions arrived at by the Prohibition Convention at Beilclntha, the Premier said there must be found some defects in the Act, And it was the duty of the State to remedy these, so that the intention of the Legislature could be carried out. The principle of requiring a majority had been established under the Loans to Local Bodies Acts." In this case it was a matter affecting the ratepayers indirectly. If they took away the revenue of the local authorities, then the local rating power must be increased or they must get revenue from taxpayers of the colony generally'? ne question of three years' license was one of detail. As to wholesale licenses the question has not been touched. The Government could not interfere with constituted authorities. As to club licenses, when the wish of the people was declared under the Act, he would never be a party to using the power in defiance of the will of the people As to the plebiscite suggestion, it was worthy of consideration ; he never feared the people. As to the costs of elections the local bodies had had animal elections before, and taking the cost of the last election as against three annual ones the local authorities were in no worse position. It was simply a case of paying in. advance. As to all l-evenue going to the Government, that brought them face to face with the question of making up revenue. If prohibition were carried that meant doubling the direct taxation or increasing by one-third the Customs tariff, to make good the loss. The question of railwayjrefreshment rooms was one for the Railway Commissioners. As to efforts which they said would be made to evade the law to discredit prohibition the police would be instructed so strictly do their duty. The will of the people should have effect so for as he was concerned.