N.Z. ALLIANCE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 54, 7 March 1929, Page 13

N.Z. ALLIANCE

POLITICAL ACTION BARE. MAJORITY AND BALLOT-. . ■' ;■' PAPER . ■'. . v ; ". Following the presentation of a report by the general secretary (Mr. C.. R. Edmond) on the subject of licensing legislation and political action^ the New Zealand Alliance- annual meeting, after full discussion, re-afhrmed the following resolutions which were adopted by the annual meeting of 1928:— ! ■ "That the New Zealand Alliance reaffirm the cardinal principle that the continuance or abolition of the liquor traffic must be determined in accordance -with the expressed will of the simple majority of the electors who record their, votes."

"That the New Zealand Alliance renew its demand for the'remdval from the ballot paper of the discredited issue of State purchase and control.". ■ , ' "That we oppose any extension of time between the licensing polls." The New Zealand Alliance is on ..record as being willing to support legislation which will provide for the question of restoration being submitted to the electors after Prohibition has had a fair trial— on this question, the annual meeting has decided that the issue should be defined to mean the restoration of conditions obtaining immediately prior to the coming into force of the determination in. favour of National Prohibition. : ;

"That the New Zealand Alliance strenuously oppose any attempt to increaseby reduction of the prescribed majority or otherwise —the unjustifiable advantage conferred on supporters of the liquor traffic by retention of the power, by a local vote, to restore licenses "in. no-license, districts, after withdrawal of the corresponding power;'bjr a: local vote,' to atiolisb licenses from licensed districts." ' ■ ..'•

"That the New-Zealand Alliance' demand: (a) That any notice, or amended notice, as the case may be, of the result of any national licensing poll published by the Minister of Justice, shall be final and conclusive for all purposes, and that the result of the poll as stated therein 1 shall not be questioned in any proceedings whatsoever; and (b) that sub-section 3 and 4 of section 32 of the Licensing Amentmeht Act, 1910, be repealed."

"That the New Zealand Alliance strenuously oppose any proposal to make rettospective provision for the grant of licenses in respect to premises that, owing to the changes in electoral boundaries, have been included in a no-license district, and in consequence of such inclusion ■ have lost their licenses and subsequently have beeu included in a licensed district," "That the New Zealand Alliance in pursuance of .its. policy of striving to minimise the.evils associated with the liquor traffic, demand: — :. , (1) That it be made an offence to drink any intoxicating liquor or to allow any intoxicating liquor to be consumed upon any premises licensed for use as a hall or cabaret for dancing. - (2) Oppose the exteusiou of,.the facilities for the sale of liquor proposed in clause 30 o£ the 1927 Bill, and demand that it be made an offence to supply intoxicating liquor to any person during the hours for which licensed premises are required to be closed. ' ' . ' i ■ . ' (3) Oppose the proposal contained in clause 9 of the 1927 Bill to enable licensing committees to authorise the use of one or more private bars in addition to one public bary and demand that no part of any licensed premises shall be; permitted to be used for the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor other than one authorised bar. ■ ■ •'■ '■ •'■'- : ■ ' ■ ■■" ■■ "' ■ •■■■■' ' (4) That section 162 of tlie Licensing Act, 1908, be amended by substitutingthe words "at. any time while the licensed premises are required to be cloaed": for the words "after the hour of eleven at night." "That the Alliance reaffirms its demand for a two-issue ballot paper. Experience has proved that less than ten per cent, of the people are in favour" of the third issue. The Allianco further resolves that if Par-liament-insists on a three-issue ballot paper provision should be made for preferential i voting.(with.-the single transferable vote) as provided in the late Mr. Massey's Legislature Amendment Bills of 1923 and 1924.