PROVISIONS CRITICISED

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 55, 13 September 1928, Page 13

PROVISIONS CRITICISED

N.Z. ALLIANCE VIEWS \ The Standing Committee of the New Zealand Alliance yesterday considered the proposals contained in tho Licensing Amendment Bill as introduced by tho Prime Minister, and issued the following statement:— "On behalf of tho Prohibition voters in tho Dominion tho Standing Committee, while appreciating the proposal to eliminate the issue of State Purchase and Control, arc disappointed that a proposal is contained in tho Bill whereby a 55 per cent, majority must be obtained before National Prohibition can be carried. Seeing that tho Ilouso of Representatives last session, by a majority vote of eleven, made a declaration in favour of the simple majority, thu committee fails to understand, why tho proposal for a 55 per cent, majority should again have been included in the Bill. At tho forthcoming election, on a careful estimate of tho probable increase of voters, tho proposal of 55 per cent, would amount to a handicap of approximately 73,000 votes, and it is against all principles of democratic government that such a handicap should be proposed, in order to protect a vicious monopoly, such as the liquor trade, from tho will of tho people. "It is surprising to noto that the Primo Minister has again included a proposal in tho Bill to extend the time between tho polls, seeing that tho House of Representatives deleted this clause from the Licensing Bill last session by 51 votes to 23. "The New Zealand Alliance has been on record for many years as being in favour of the submission of tho question of restoration of licenses after Prohibition has had a fair trial. The Standing Committee considers that the proposals covering the proposed restoration poll are more satisfactory than those contained in tho Bill brought down last session, particularly in regard to tho protection of tho present No-Licenso areas. "Section 37 proposes to allow under certain conditions liquor to be served in the dining-rooms of hotels or chartered clubs up till 10 o'clock at night, increasing the hour of sale from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. The Standing Committeo consider that this is a distinctly retrogrado proposal, which will result in tho increased consumption of alcoholic liquor, and will also nullify to some extent the admitted benefits of 6 o'clock closing. It is to be hoped that all members who are against increased facilities for drinking alcoholic liquor will vote- against the proposals contained in this particular section. "Tho Standing Committee again places on record its determination to secure for the electors of the Dominion tho right to east their vote on the licensing issue at tho triennial polls on a two-issuo ballot paper—Prohibition versus Co^iuuance— the issue to bo docided by a simple majority."