LABOUR AND LIQUOR.

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 18, 20 July 1918, Page 11

LABOUR AND LIQUOR.

At the conference of the New Zealand Labour Party the chief topic considered, or, rather the topic which-'created the greatest interest, concerned Labour's attitude to the liquor question. This controversial subjeot was introduced by the Auckland Labour Representation Committee, which submitted extensive proposals, which may be summed up in the introduction to the remit : "The labour movement is essentially a temperance movement, aiming at the scientific, control and ultimate abolition of all influences—including alcoholic liquor —that may have a tendency to impede the upward and onward inarch of humanity to a fuller and brighter life." As, a means of minimising the evil, the following recommendations were submit ted : —(1) Lessening of the hours of labour; (2) increased ventilation ] and sanitary conditions in mines, factories, and workshops; (3) increased wages and general raising of the standard of living; (4) .municipal housing and town-plan-ning, theatres, and recreation grounds; (5) State control, manufacture and importation\of all liquor for consumption; (6) municipalisatipn of the retail sale of alcoholic liquor. The remit contained many other proposals, and all were considered at great length, and, it is reported, somewhat heatedly. There were delegates for and against an alteration of the platform, but after a fairly close Vote it was decided that the platform should remain as at present, with the addition that there should be preferential voting on the three issues which Labour thinks should be put to the electors : National prohibition, State control, and continuance. Labour's desire that abare majority should rule remains unaltered.