THE ENGLISH NATIONAL UNION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF INTEMPERANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3567, 24 June 1872, Page 3

THE ENGLISH NATIONAL UNION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF INTEMPERANCE.

From the following document,'issued by the above society, it will he seen that a definite stand has been > made in-England against what are deemed the somewhat tyrannical provisions of the Permissive Bill. Though the entire programme of the new society is not' likely to be approved of in this colony, most of the arguments employed will be recognised as of great force and fatal to the Permissive Prohibitory BUI in its usual form. Were. parliament to sanction the Bill anomalously styled “The Permissive Pro-, hibitory BUI.” they would sanction one of the most inadequate, inefficient, misleading, expensive, unjust, and revolutionary measures ever s übmitted for. adoption by the country. . It is inadequate, because it leaves the country groaning under the present Ul-regulated system untU two-thirds of the ratepayers of a district can be worked up in favour of totaUy closing all licensed houses. It is inefficient, because it does not guarantee the closing of a single public-house or beerhouse, as it only allows the ratepayers to decide the closing of ,aU licensed houses or none, which they will not do ; for while they may be prepared to close all disorderly houses, they are not willing to close respectably conducted houses, which are felt to be necessary and convenient.

It is misleading, because its theory is based on tbe fallacy of assuming the people will put it into operation for adoption, whereas the: fact is, nine-tenths of the people would consider the attempt to clesed all licensed libuses an interference with the liberty of the subject, and would rote accordingly. It is expensive, because to put it into operation a staff of clerks, officers, and a separate department would have to be. engagad, which would be an additional burden to the already over-taxed ratepayers. It is unjust, because those who have invested their capital in public-house property, and those who are now legally carrying on their business, would be deprived of their legitimate interest. It is revolutionary, because for a theory it would overthrow the whole existing licensing authority by withdrawing it from the magistrates, and placing it with an irresponsible body of ratepayers, who are more likely to vote for free trade in drink than total prohibition of it. Moreover, to leave this great social question unsettled, would cause quarrels, feuds, dissensions, and riots, every election time, and greatly injure the temperance movement, “ because,” in the words of the late Lord Derby, “ the exertions of temperance societies on the voluntary principle are impeded, and odium is excited against them by every attempt at forcible suppression of the-traffic.” What we Find;

A vast amount of intemperance in the country, mainly caused by wrong legislation. What we Want:

I. To suppress intemperance as much as possible by an Imperial enactment, closing all licensed houses in excess of the requirements of the population. 11. To prevent by sound legislation the future spread of drunkenness, by amending and utilising the existing licensing laws. 111. To deal justly and righteously with all vested interests and rights of property. What we do Not Want: I. To burden the rates with the cost of an annually elected Board, who shall vote for Free Trade in drink or total prohi-

bition. 11. To overthrow the whole existing licensing authority, by withdrawing it from the magistrates, and placing it with an irresponsible body of electors. 111. To leave the country groaning under the present ill-regulated system, until two-thirds of the ratepayers of a district can be worked up in favour of totally closing all licensed houses. IV. To interfere with the liberty of the subject by depriving him of all access to spirituous liquors, or by forcing extra licensed temptations upon him, if so determined by the majority of elec-

tors. V. To cause quarrels, feuds, dissensions, riots, and probably bloodshed, every election time, and so keep this greatest social question of the day for ever unsettled. What wo intend: X. To confirm the local magistrates as the licensing authority, giving them increased power to refuse to issue new licenses, and to suspend existing disorderly and unnecessary houses. 11. To fix a maximum number of licenses for boroughs and districts in proportion to population, beyond which the licensing authority cannot go—say one licensed house to every 500 of the population. This would close twothirds of the existing houses. HI. To meet the claims of property an extra license duty shall be levied on the remaining licensed houses in proportion as their gains shall increase by the trade diverted to them from the

other houses os they become suppressed. IV. To shorten the hours of sale both on week-days and Sunday, and gradually to extinguish the bcorshops. V, To provide against adulteration by the appointment of a staff of efficient inspectors, and to enforce more stringent . police regulations. YL To raise the character of licensed houses by preventing continuous tippling,, and by making them more truly places of public convenience and refreshment,

-and .by- enacting, that thepublicaumay have a discretionary power to refuse to sell spirituous liquors to hard-drinkers and dangerous characters. Wh*tyo» 90* do: r ' Help us to settle this greatest social question of the day: (1) by joining the committee for your county, (2) by inducing your friends to do the same, (3) by reading and circulating our National Union, Chronicle, and (4) by generously contributing to our funds.