NEW SOUTH WALES REFERENDUM

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 102, 27 October 1923, Page 13

NEW SOUTH WALES REFERENDUM

The Queensland Prohibition vote-is regarded, as significant", in" view 61 the "decision, of, the. Nationalist Conference,a *ey. days aj*o in favour of a referendnir. nertyear-iiv New South Wales, -in opposition .id' the .views of the- MiniHerTdf Justice (Mr. .Ley), who, although a PrpWoiticnist, disagrees with the bone dry forces, on the .question of- coinperisatioh", which: he. favours, apd the date. of., tha referendum:- His spirited speech; in defence at the ■ Nationalist Conferenca brought about his ears a veritable storm. Although no bones were, broken and only verbal missiles were thrown at' Mr. Ley, the scene suggested an atmosphere of blood and beer.. The Premier (Sir Georg« Fuller) had to pray several times for a quiet hearing for his colleague, who, in urging the payment of compensation for a trade which the law had legalised, told his Prohibitionist friends that reasonable people would not ba won over by fanaticism. And that made them more furious, of course. Mr. Ley, wha will be Prcmi«r of New Sooth Wales one of these days, and at no far distant date, unless all the signs are. wrong, fixed; 1928 as the date of the'referendum in. the Liquor Bill to enable the License* Reduction Board .to. complete 'ita'.wjark of reform, at the expense of th« trade, before any, referendum which might favour continuance can possjb^i operate to; the detriment of the board's work. Both brick: and bouquets are Mr. Ley's peculiar lot just now. But be i» s Btronc force, and his antagonists know it. He is one of the leading solicitor! in Sydney. '.'.'.- .■..-. :.