NO-LICENSE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 153, 28 June 1912, Page 3

NO-LICENSE

AND THE BARE MAJORITY QUESTION NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE ASKS THAT THE LAW BE ALTERED. A deputation representing the New Zealand Alliance waited on the Prime Minister yesterday; and requested certain important- alterations in the licensing law. / The Rev. W. J. Comrie said they wished to obtain legislation or a change of administration which would bring that legislation about. Their party polled 260,000 votes at the last poll. It had been growing strongly, and had secured a majority of 54,000 votes for No-license. No other party approached their record. They had a majority in sixty-seven electorates, and claimed to have the voice of the country behind them. . They asked that the 60 per . cent, provision be repealed ; the bare majority should rule. The. majority need not be fictitious, but even if there were a majority of one the proposal should be carried. Wherever there was a majority in favour of No-license that majority should rule in this, as in other questions. (Hear, hear.) They ■ also asked that the four years' interval before which No-lincense could bo carried should be substantially reduced, so that the effect of national prohibition should not bo delayed. The definition of "bar" permitted the use. of a large number oi rooms not opening on the streets, and unregistered persons were supplying liquor in them, making the Act practically a dead letter. There should be an amendment prohibiting women from supplying liquor.' In the King Country there was greater room for the, sale of liquor than in a No-license district ; the regulations of the latter should apply to the King Country. We owed a solemn obligation to the Maoris not to supply liquor, and it was the duty of the Government to keep their promise more than in the letter. He also wished that a licensing poll should take place within two years of a dissolution. Beplying to these and other representations, tho Hon. Mx - . M'Kenzio said he did not # think it v/as possible io take up licensing legislation during the present session. That view he had held since he assumed the responsibility of the government of the country. He would lay the various matters before the Cabinet^ Thie was a. matter for Cabinet rather than the Prim© Minister. He would make the fullest representations of all* they had said. "1 personally would not undertake to introduce legislation giving the bare majority." With regard to barmaids, it was the intention of the Legislature thai those barmaids in the eci-vice of different hotels should remain, so long as they were re- j gistered; no fresh barmaids should be registered. The intention was that no other than those now employed should be employed in the future celling liquor over bars, whether such bars were called j public or private. IK the Government was taking up legislation he should endeavour to %iake that absolutely clear. He agreed that the spirit of the promises made iD regard to the King Country should be carried out. (" Hear, hear.';) He would go into the matter with Cabinet at the earliest possible moment and commtinicate the result of its deliberations. He could understand the disturbance ' taking place in political parties through licensing questions, and he would point out that Parliament had already granted many requests advanced by the temperance people. ("Hear, hear.") Legislation had been progi'easive, though perhaps not all that many reformers were asking. To be quite candid* he was not in favour of » bare majority. He promised -to have representations placed before Cabinet. Before the deputation retired it was intimated that the Nolicense Party would have to consider its attitude towards parties at the ballotbox. This, one delegate said, was " not made as a threat — only a kindly notice."