LICENSING REFORM

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1927, Page 6

LICENSING REFORM

CORPORATE CONTROL

A SUGGESTED SOLUTION

The annual conference of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association was held in Wellington yesterday. It •was attended by about eighty delegates fi'oni all parts of the Dominion. Tho Yen. Archdeacon Williams presided. Apologies for absence and conveying good wishes to tho conference were received from Archbishop Redwood, Dr. Richards (Anglican Bishop of Dunedin), and the Eev. P. T. Williams (Auckland).

The president, when welcoming the delegates, said that the circumstances had changed very little in tha last year. There was an assurance that there would be a Licensing Bill this year, and lie hoped that it would be framed on lines of reform. The measure which was introduced to Parliament a year ago had caused great disappointment. One of the only differences he could see in the position this year and last year was that the Prohibitionists were more blatant than over in claiming that they had secured a majority of the members of the House of Representatives. Prohibition, however, had not a majority in the country, and if the members of Parliament reflected the will of the country the Prohibitionists would be in a minority in the House. The Prohibitionists wore making a big effort to eliminate from the ballot paper the middle issue, but this would result in the disfranchisement of many thousands of voters wLo were as much entitled to express their opinion at the ballot-box as -vere tho Prohibitionists themselves. It could not be overlooked that at the mat poll 56,000 people voted for the middle issue. He believed that the Trade as it stood at present was in serious need of reform, and that Corporate Control provided the remedy. He looked upon Prohibition as an invitation to disaster such as had overtaken America. C'orporato Control was not suffisicntly understood, but briefly it meant Stato control without State expenditure. Successive Governments had failed to deal with the question here in a statosmanlike manner, and until it was handled in such a way there would bo no solution. At present an attempt svas being made to reduce the question purely to polities and leave statesmanship out of it altogether. (Applause.) The Eev. G. Gordon Bell, M.A. (Auckland'), moved: "That this conference reaffirms its conviction that the Corporate Control proposal provides a sound and practical solution of the liquor question in New Zealand, and strongly urges that it be submitted ,to the electors as an issue at future polls."

The mover said that, despite the insinuations of tho Prohibition Party, Corporate Control was a scheme evolved by his' colleagues and himself and supported by people who were entirely disinterested except for the welfare of the country. He believed thoro was also a largo section of tho trade which desired reform, men who thoroughly disliked to see drunkenness, and who would welcome legislation which would improve the present conditions. The law as it stood to-day did not make for improvements, and a change for tho bottcr could not bo hoped for until drastic changes in tho licensing legislation were effected. The association was utterly opposed to tho policy of Prohibition, which, experience showed, was no remody for the evil of alcoholic oxceßs. They wore also opposed to the Continuance unreformed of the present licensing systom. They contended that Corporate Control would bo au offectivo remedy.

The Rev. J. P. Fcron (Rangiora) secondod the motion, which was carried unanimously. THE MIDDLE ISSUE. Tho following resolution was moved by Mr. O. Balk (Dunedin): "That this conference, on behalf of tho moderate electors of the Dominion, omphatieally protests against tho suggested disfranchiaoment of that rapidly-increas-ing body of electors, who, boing unablo to support cither Prohibition or Continuance, roquiro a middlo issue for the recording of their conscientious votes at tho licensing poll, and calls upon tho members of tho Houso to resist tho attempt ttiat is boing mudo by the New Zealand Allianco to dragoon Parliament into surrendoriug the principles of justice aud democracy. ''

Mr". Balk said ho resented tho attempt to take away the middle issue. Ho folt that Now Zealand had a great deal to learn in tho handling of the drink question. Ho had spent a good deal of time on the Continent, aud was of tho opinion that things wore better managed there. Though he was a tea merchant, ho would like to sco the drinking of light wines and light alo oncouraged, as ho thought Now Zealandors drank too much tea. Prohibition, was an American product, very like another American product—jazz. Prohibition was no more a virtue than jazz was music (Laughter and applause.) The soconder of the resolution, Mr. T. Hobson (Mayor of Lovin) doscribod the attempt to remove the middle issue aa nothing other than an effort to disfranehiso at .least 5(5,000 pooplo. What was wanted was an opportunity to reform tho licensed trade. If Prohibition woro carried, tho Prohibitionists would not want to have any more polls on tba question, but they would not suggest that when Prohibition' waa defeated thoro should bo a cessation of polls. The resolution was carried unanimously. Moved by Dr. .). O. Collins (Gisborne) and secondod by tho llov. 13. B. Molden (Christchureh), the following resolution was carried: —"That, iv view of tho-nbaudonmont of Prohibition, in Canada, and other countries that have experimented with' tho systom, this eonfurohce respectfully urges upon the members of tho Legislature a recognition of tho grave danger of placing Now Zealand in such a position as would mako it possible to plungo our happy country, by a catch vote, into tho disastrous conditions that have beon shown to follow attempted Prohibition wherever tried."

Mr. D. M. Fiudlay, president of the Now Zealand Moderato League, who waa received with applause, touched on tho question of election pledges. lie inovod: "That in view of tho continued political activity of the Prohibition Party and the imminent danger of Parliament becoming controlled by an outsido organisation, this conference, while regretting boing forced by resulting conditions, to take definite action in self-defence, authorises tho Dominion oxeoutive, if found necessary,- to preparo and establish in ev«ry electorate throughout the Dominion an organisation for tho purpose of onsuring that ovory olectod candidato will enter Parliament free of. nil pledges except those required by his own political party." He said that he thought that tho resolution emphasised a particular danger which was present to-day. It was not that thoy wanted to go into the political field at all, they only wanted to prevent men lieing pledged, not to got pledges from them. Tho resolution was carried unanimously.

The You. Archdoacou Williams was ro-elected prosident unopposed, and was heartily thanked for the excellent work ho had done in the niovemoat. Archdoacon Williams said he wished ho were in a position to do more. He felt that tho association stood for temperance, and for tho best interests of tho country. Mr. D. M. Kndlay was re-elected vico-presidcut, and Mr. B. A. Armstrong organising secretary. High tributos were paid to the excellent work done by each gentleman. ' '