LICENSING REFORM

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 34, 8 August 1925, Page 8

LICENSING REFORM

DOMINION ASSOCIATION

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.

The Dominion conference of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association, which has been sitting at the Accountants' Society Rooms, completed its business yesterday..

Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from the Rev. G. Gordon Bell and the Rev,. P. T. Williams, and from Messrs. D. M. Findlay, president of the Moderate League, and C. P. Skerrett, K.C., president Associated Clubs. His Grace Archbishop Redwood, who had been invited to be present, also wrote regretting a prior engagement hindered him from attending, and expressing his accord with any endeavour "to prevent New Zealand from experiencing the disaster of National Prohibition," and stating that he was heartily with th» conference in its aims at reform.

The Venerable Archdeacon Williams presided. The Dominion executive's report travursed the work of the organisation since its inception, find recorded the repeated efforts made to secure licensing legislation. It thanked those who had taken up executive positions in various branches for their loyal assistance during the period under review, and pointed out that the aim of true temperance in New Zealand could only be achieved by organised, effort. The financial statement showed the affairs of the association to be in a healthy condition. Both were adopted, unanimously. The following remita were carried :—

(1) That this conference confirms the action of the Dominion executive in publicly protesting against the attempt of the New Zealand Alliance to secure, by means of pledges obtained from candidates for election, control of Parliament, and endorses the statement that while the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association seeks no pledges itself it will use every means in it* power to prevent the Parliament of New Zealand becoming subservient to the dictates of an 1 outside organisation. (2) That this conference decides to ■ organise the association on ah electoral district basis for the purpose of preventing the return Of a Parliament pledged to the Prohibitionists, and generally to forward the objects of this association. (3) That this association firmly maintains the right of the electors to a third issue of "reform" as between Prohibition and Continuance of existing conditions, and again advances the Corporate Control proposal as a substitute for the existing third issue of State Purchase and: Control.

' (4) That the public be invited to join as members, in the work of the association, in its advocacy of Corporate Control and other reforms of the licensing Jaws; and" to subscribe to the general funds of the association to enable it to become an effective force for the promotion of true temperance in the Dominin a* opposed to Prohibition.

. (5) That this conference is opposed to the application of the preferential sygtwn of voting to any ballot paper which includes the issue of Prohibition for.the reason that Prohibition, meaning total abolition, i« in itself a clear-cut and final issue admitting of no qualification what-

_ (6). That in the eveut of there being so licensing legislation this session and of Corporate Control no^ being submitted as an issue at the approaching poll, thii conference, while recognising that the organised licensed trade must in its own interests support the issue of Continuance, urges th« other bodies associated to request their members and supporters to vote for the third issue of State Purchase and. Control, as an indication to Parliament that there is a strong demand for the reform of the licensing sysreiu.

'Hie question of orgnisation i»» •onnection with the approaching General Elec# tion and Licensing Poll was fully discussed, aiid a plan o! campaign approved. A hearty vote of thanks wa» accorded to the Dominion president, Yen. Archdeacon Williams, for tho splendid manner in whicli he had conducted the conference, and the speakers at the deputation to the Prime Minister were also accorded the thanks of. the conference.