Page 4 Advertisements Column 3

Evening Star, Issue 18137, 29 November 1922, Page 4

CHALLENGE ANSWERED! 1 esanarr^gga^^ Drastic Reform of the Liquor Trade, Business Management with State Control. During the discussion of the Liquor Problem at the Anglican General Synod, held in April last, and at the Auckland Diocesan Synod, held-in October, the opponents of Prohibition were taunted with being inconsistent because the)’ retused to sanction the extinction of the Licensed Trade, and yet could not suggest any practical remedy for the admitted evils of the Trade under present conditions. The General Synod refused to recommend Church people to vote for Prohibition, but expressed its conviction that Christian people, unless they are prepared to vote for Prohibition, Should have some other drastic remedy. The General S3-nod’s resolution was rejected by the Diocesan Synod by one vote, and a motion in favor of Prohibition was then carried. As supporters of the motion so narrowly rejected by the Diocesan Synod, and being fully aware of die many evils at present connected with the abuse of alcoholic liquors, and being desirous of forwarding the cause of Christ,art temperance we view with alarm the efforts at present being made to carry Into effect the policy of Prohibition in this Dominion. We are convinced that any community when confronted with an evil must be satisfied that any remedy proposed must fulfil two conditions — 1. That it must be equitable—not contrary to basic principles of morality and ethics, and not interfering unnecessarily with personal liberty. 2. That it is likely to be effective. Careful consideration brings us to the conclusion that the policy of Prohibition fulfils neither of these two conditions. We are aware that many are prepared to vote for Prohibition at the forthcoming referendum, not because they either like or approve of the policy, but because they feel that no ..ther means can be devised to eradicate existing evils. Deploring as greatly as anyone the manifest evils of al, oholic excess, and believing that effective remedy of the evils can be brought about, we have set ourselves to the framing of a policy of Licensing Reform, and in the following suggestions we believe that we have arrived at proposals which woujd give a reasonable, just, businesslike, and effective method suitable for this Dominion. PROPOSALS 1. That the whole of the manufacture, importation, and distribution of alcoholic liquors in the Dominion be vested by Act of Parliament in a Corporation. 2. That all holders of Wholesale Licenses and Brewers’ Licenses shall be required to sell their businesses to this Corporation. 3. That the Government of New Zealand shall acquire a substantial interest in the Corporation by the issue of debentures, which the vendors would be required to accept in payment of such interest as the Government might acquire. 4. The Corporation should be under the direction of a body of practical and men, and it is suggested, therefore, that a Board of Directors, consisting of, say, nine gentlemen, should be formed; the Government should have the right to nominate, in addition to the Chairman, four of these Directors, while the Shareholders would have the right of election from among their number of four members. The Government, in addition to its right of nomination of four Directors, should also nominate the Chairman, who, it is hoped, would be an experienced Magistrate—thus of the nine Directors, five, including the Chairman, would be in the nomination of the Government. A Corporation thus constituted would be on lines similar to those of the Bank of New Zealand, which is acknowledged to be one of the most successful semi-State institutions in the Empire, and would ensure the combination of Business Management with State Control. 5. That the, vendors accept shares in the Corporation in payment of the balance of purchase money. G. That the dividends on all shares be limited. Excess, profits to be applied to National purposes, such as extinction of National Debt, payment of Hospital Subsidies, construction and maintenance of Public Highways, etc. T. That legislative authority be given to the Corporation to act as the sole authority for the issue of permits to sell alcoholic liquors as in the Province of Quebec. The conditions under which such permits would be granted would be the maintenance of hotels to a high standard of conduct and tire provision of adequate accommodation _to meet the requirements of the public. We are of opinion that one valuable condition, might be the abolition of the sale of spirits over the counter. 8. The Corporation could be given power to experiment in the provision of alternatives to the liquor tavern, such as the French Cafe or other system of refreshment houses to .which people could freely resort for social intercourse. Some of the more obvious advantages of these proposals are:— (a) That a Corporation under Government control would be the sole authority for the_ manufacture, importation, and distribution of all alcoholic liquors. (b) That the management of all public-houses would be under the control of the Corporation, (c) That the “ tied house ” system would automatically cease. (d) That the public would be protected against the adulteration of liquor and the selling of liquor of inferior quality. (e) That the open Cafe system or the Carlisle system could be given a reasonable trial. (f) That the present fictitiously high values of licensed premises would be reduced. (g) That profits on the sale of liquor would be regulated. (h) That the Government’s share in the Corporation would , be acquired without any actual money payment. (i) That the management of hotels and public-houses would be under the direct control of the Corporation, which would be partially owned and wholly directed by the State, thus ensuring the reasonable wants of the public being adequately and suitably catered for. (j) That all excess profits would become the property of the State, and not of private individuals, and would be devoted to National purposes. (k) That the permission or encouragement of drunkenness by holders -of permits would be eliminated, as this would involve the cancellation of the permit. Wc, with confidence, commend these proposals to the Electors for their serious consideration, as drastic remedy’for the Reform of the Licensed Trade of this Dominion, at the same time reminding them that the Right Hon. the Prime Minister has stated in Parliament that if Prohibition is not carried at the forthcoming poll he will, introduce legislation providing for a drastic reform of the Licensing Laws. The carrying of Prohibition would effectively preclude the Prime Minister 3 from carrying into effect his declared intention. We pledge ourselves, in the event of Prohibition not being carried, to do all in our power as citizens to stir up public opinion so that some such scheme as the above shall be carried into effect at the earliest possible date. PERCY T. WILLIAMS, M.A., Cambridge, Hon. Canon of S. Marv’s Cathedral, Auckland. Warden of S. John’s College, Auckland. PERCIVAL JAMES, M.A., Oxford, Hon. Canon and Vicar of S. Mary’s Cathedral, Auckland. 0. GORDON BELL, Cambridge. Vicar of Holy Sepulchre, Auckland, NORMAN E. BURTON, Seconder in Synod of Canon Williams’s Amendment.

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