THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Mataura Ensign, 6 July 1914, Page 4

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

VIEW'S OK .UODKIiATE'S. FBtt ONITOII PBKSS ASSOCIATION WKJJ.dXfJTO.V. ,|„lv <i. _ A deputation of about ".0 re presenting tho uiodoriite. .side of the liquor question waited an the Prime .M inL,-t.-s----to-da.y. I "My Men truth, who wri.s tin- f .j,!i-i' spokesman, ,«niil that neither tlio trade nor the jlr<ihi-l>it:u>i partv could claim to rcnresent the public a.sa whole. Over IOOjOOO electors did not. vote „„ i| l( , liquor question at the la-I, poll. He strongly deprecated lejii.iaiiiiy; out. the use of alcoholic beverages "V a merely I nominal niajoritv. On the other hand', it was felt that much could he done to \ improve tlu> system under which liquor was cold. Mr Harcourt «id the vote at the last election showed that a reduction tD .« per cent, meant the !o .-. of i;l,t!00,0iK) in revenue and before any change w-j? made route definite .system of readjustment .should he brought forward. In reply Jit. Hon. W. I<\ M,r«ty *-o-<d the Government w:«hed to know the moderates' views on the outfit : mi and he also did personally. The Government muit do ail it ceiild to r.romote .-wbrietw without unre::.-onab!e interfcr-i ing with the liberty of the subject. Par-! liantent nvusi .be idvcn an opportunity to esr.rc s its opinion on a matt; r <;; such nubile importance, 'ike limncrtli positvm \y.i* important. If prohibition was carried (he revenue ]o>t would have to bo replaced. He ranivt'i! pleasure at Jveing men of inoderno _v;eiv.s takin-j an interest in public affairs and t!uy could rest a.-fe-urcyl that their represcntationa would receive the consideration they wer« eatitjed to,