LICENSING LAW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1539, 7 September 1912, Page 11

LICENSING LAW.

A TRADE DEPUTATION. POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT. _ An amendment of the voting paper used in National Prohibition polls was asked for by a deputation representing the National Council of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, introduced by Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., which interviewed the Prime Minister yesterday morning. Mr. Myers said that the Licensed Victuallers had recently been in conference in Wellington, and that while there were many matters upon which they would like to approach the Prime Minister, they had decided to prefer only one request. Mr. Martin Kennedy (chairman of the National Council) said that while they did not like the Act as it stood, they would limit their request to an amendment of the voting paper in regard to National Prohibition, in order that an honest expression of opinion might be obtained at the polls in accordance with the Act. Tho present issues: "I vote against National Prohibition," and T votofor National Prohibition," were misleading, and considerable confusion was caused to electors. They asked that tho voting paper should be amended to read: "I vote for National Continuance," and "I vote for National Prohibition." Mr. Kennedy said that he was sure that their opponents would concur in this proposal, because he did not think thev desired to get a majority upon a "snap vote, or against the intentions of the people. If the voting paper was not altered, and a vote were taken, w> matter wnich side won, a clamour would be raised,,on the ground that a number of people voted contrary to their intentions. The request was hot a partisan one, as the Trade would be content to leave the matter in the hands of two disinterested parties to decide upon the wording ballot paper, if the Government would introduce the proposal to the House. They did not desire to ask for a review of the Licensing Act, because whatever its defects may be, it would be unfair for them to expect the Government to attempt a general alteration of the law at the present time. , ' The Prime Minister, in replying, said that their request was that the reference to National Prohibition in the schedule of the Act should be made clear. He had already stated that there would be no Government Licensing Bill this session. The "Barmaids Bill" would not be a Licensing Bill. It would einiply be a Bill with the title mentioned, for the reason that if Government introduced an amendment to the Licensing Act, even with the object of making clear what was intended in the Act of 1910, it would be so overloaded by amendments in tho House that it would not be possible to get it through. He did not think that the Government could do anything in regard to their proposal this session. Before there was any possibility of another poll being taken, if the Government Tβmained in office, and he had no doubt they would, the position would be made quite clear. If the Government did not introduce a Bill with any other object they would make the wording of the ballot paper so clear that any elector would be able to understand what issue he was voting for. . .