LICENSING REFORM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 August 1927, Page 5

LICENSING REFORM.

ASSOCIATION ISSUES STATEMENT.

(BY' TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, August 26.

A meeting of the Licensing Reform Association has issued a manifesto stating that, in view of the possible confusion arising out of newspaper controversy, the Dominion Executive •of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association desires to make it clear that its legislative programme, as agreed upon Oy the 1923 conferences and subsequently represented to the Government, has not been altered or amended.

Tne attitude of all sections of the licensed trade towards referenda remains unchanged. From the outset it lias been made clear that the licensed trade naturally preferred the continuance of the present system of private ownership Their attitude towards the middle issue has been, and is, that they will continue to support the claim of the moderate section 'for the right to declare, for a middle course.

The Licensing Reform Association, in this respect, looks upon corporate control as a better and more practical solution than State purchase and control. The deteminations of the Association in relation to corporate control have undergone no change whate. er. The association asks that this issue be substituted for the existing issue, and be submitted to the electors under the title of “Corporate ConDo ”1. The policy and proposals of thelicensing Reform Association can only be determined by a conference assembled. The Dominion Executive reiterates the claim that a. system of orporate control would provide as ef'ective measures in .the interests of temperance as would complete State purchase.