THE LICENSING LAWS.

Evening Star, Issue 12208, 28 May 1904, Page 6

THE LICENSING LAWS.

AUCKLAND, Mav 28. A deputation from the Prohibition League interviewed the Hon. Mr. M'Gowan to-day and asked for legislation earlv nest session to validate the Newtown and Bruce polls, and to prevent a similar .-state of things occurring again; also that the liquor polls be under the same regulations as the parliamentary polls, with further provisions to safeguard the ballot papers, and that the city electorates be defined, so that people might know where to agister. The Minister of there should be no means by which the fair decision of the people should not be carried out. The Government took every care possible to secure bailer, paper* from interference. In perhaps, special care was necessary, in view of the strong feeling between the parties. The subdivision of the citv electorates was in the Colonial Secretary's department. He did not think that urgent legislation was required to validate the Newtown and Bruce polls, but he would bring the request under the notice of the nient. He did not appiovo of allowing a license to lap:--e and then applying for a fresh license in a district miles away.' That was not contemplated by the Legislature. Fur thcr amendment* in licensing legislation would be required. [Srnt'iAL to thk St Ait.] G'HF.LSTCHURCTI. .Mav 28. The Rev. F. W. litt, secretary'to the New Zealand Alliance, who is " visiting Christchurch, states that the annual meeting of the Alliance will be held on Thursday afternoon and evening and on Friday morning and afternoon. Mr A. S. Adams, the president, would attend, and delegates would be present from all parts of the'colony, as some important questions, such as "trickery at poUinr booths," would be discussed. It was probable that all the meetings would be held in committee. The party did not fear now, as they had done before, that there might be a dissolution over the freehold question, which was reailv a brewers' dodge to po tpone the Local Option poll. The Alliance were not much afraid that any strong effort would bj made to pass legislation that would rob them of any of the privileges they possessed, but they recognised that there would bo creater need than ever at the next General Election to return men who would run straight and true, and be trusted to legislate for the higher interests of the people, and not for the financial interests of any one class of the community. A determined effort would be made within'a month to rai*e funds to defray the Newtown case expense',.