THE LICENSING ISSUE.

Evening Star, Issue 14003, 9 March 1909, Page 8

THE LICENSING ISSUE.

RICCARTON ELECTORATE. THE PLAYGROUND OF CANTER- N v -kBURY. ~■-, [Sbkhai, to the Stab.] . CHWSTCIfiuRCH, March 9. Great interest centres in the election of a new licensing committee for the Riccarton electorate, Within the boundaries of; the Riccartori electorate are' the C.J.C. racecourse, the, Metropolitan trotting grounds, .the Canterbury show grounds, and the Plumpton racecourse. Hitherto all: the sporting bodies which use these grounds have been granted temporary: licenses for the sale of liquor, but the' Nolicense party have nominated a committee this year pledged to refuse these conditional licenses. The Moderate party have nominated a committee, who, if elected, will carry on the policy that has been pursued for many years past, and grant temporary licenses for the various sports and shows; The position is put in a nutshell by a correspondent, who writes as follows to the 'Lyttelton Times':—"The Prohibitionists have nominated five persons, with the avowed intention, if elected, of refusing all conditional licenses. The peculiarity., of this district is that it is really the playground of Canterbury, or, I might say, of the Dominion. Within its boundaries are located the most important racing institution and agricultural and pastoral association in New Zealand, besides several minor clubs and the saleyards. For years past these .associations have attracted an enormous number of visitors, and have been able, with the assistance of conditional licenses (which no former committee ever thought of refusing), to cater for the comfort and convenience of all sorts and conditions of people. Now a simple question arises: Have these privileges ever been abused, and is there any Teason why they should now be withheld? It is a standing boast with us that on 'People's Show Day' one can see the largest, bestdressed, and most orderly and sober mass of people that ever congregate together in the Dominion. The same can be said with equal truth of the gatherings at the Riccarton racecourse and the Metropolitan trotting grounds and other fixtures. There is practically no drunkenness, and the police on these occasions have a pleasantly easy time of it. Speaking of the last show and races, Inspector Gillies says: ' I cannot speak too highly of their behaviour. All the police found to do at the show, which was visited by 35,000 people, was to regulate the traffic, and excellent behaviour characterised those attending the races.' It k easy to estimate that during the year quite a quarter of a million people visit these various fixtures, and an attempt is now being made by a certain section of the community to practically take out a prohibition order against this vast mass of orderly people, and to brand them as being incapable of controlling themselves. There has never previously in New Zealand been such a tyrannical attempt to rob the people of tfcair rights and liberties, and reduce them to a state of serfdom. Is it reasonable or desirable to ask the thirty to forty thousand people who visit the show on one day, many of whom require and enjoy a glass of beer or other stimulant, to deprive themselves of the same in order to defer to the outrageous opinions of a number of faddists who consider it a sin to accept the best gifts of the earth provided by an Allwise Providence? Be it also remembered that if this tyrannical action of the Prohibitionists is allowed to proceed, the associations in question will be deprived of a large amount of revenue, which now goes to swell the various prize funds and provide, conveniences and comforts for the public."

Last night's "rally" of the No-license party at the Alhainbra Theatre was a somewhat sparsely attended function. These on the platform comprised the Rev. N. A. Davis (m the chair), and Messrs A. S. Adams, G. B. Nicholls, H. D. Bedford, and three candidates for the Licensing Committee—Dr de Lantour, and Messrs Phillips and_ King. All except Messrs King and Nicholls spoke, particular attention .being directed to the alleged) unsympathetic attitude of the Press towards Nolicense, and one of the speakers prophesied that- if it were persisted in a third daily paper would be established in Dunedin before the next licensing poll.