LICENSING LEGISLATION.

Mataura Ensign, 3 July 1914, Page 5

LICENSING LEGISLATION.

|Y! 1 4 >\VS OK MODI'IHATK StXTIOX. I l'Kit UNiit.n ritiiss association. \YttLLI.N<;TON ! , .July 3. Til view ol t Ik' fact. I hat the 'prohibitionists anil representatives of the Irado have been doputationisiug tho Government, with the intention of inlliioneing legislation on tlio licensing question, a movement is beinjr started by a number of well-known citizens to ibring before tlio Prime Minister the views of the moderate section on this matter. At a meeting lield last evening a deputation Has appointed to wait on Rt. Hon. AV. F. Massey at 10 o'clock 011 Monday next to air tlw moderates' view. In an interview Ivy a 'Post' representative subsequently Mr A. S. IMenteath (chairman of the meeting) said! their views would be made fully public at a deputation. It was sufficient to say at present that, they stood apart from Imih the prohibitionists' view and! that of the trade. They did not at all agree with the former and* on the other hand, it was their opinion that the system under which the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages was at present < ondueted was open to considerable improvement. It was felt lor various reasons that the imposition] of national prohibition would be iraught with disastrous consequence# to the whole community and l judging by iho tone of last evening's meeting tlio moderate section was awaking to its responsibilities in this'matter and would probably make amends for past inaction by taking a vigorous .stain! against, legislative interference with legitimate personal froodom. It was certain tlun, suggestions for future legislation 011 tins matter should no longer lie left to the two extremes, 0110 influenced iby apparent prejudice and the other by "orsona] advantage. (Vim judgment should lie brought to bear on the subject in tlio interests of the whole community.