IN THE LICENSING LAW.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 268, 13 November 1909, Page 8

IN THE LICENSING LAW.

■WHAT WILL THE MODERATES

"DO?

1 [FBOM OtTK CORRESPONDENT.] j ,1 CHRISTCHUBCH, Nov. 12.

Commenting on the liquor, com•proniises, The Press says: "After all, .it ,is ;the moderate party that hold the : balance of power. Hitherto they liave largely wasted their efforts by voting for reduction, in the fallacious hor»e that the; prospective diminution1 of (licenses would teach the publicans a Jesson. Now that they will no longer be ablq to do this it rests entirely with the publicans, whether at the next poll this mass of votes is cast for. continuance or for nb-license; ii" it goes in the latter direction the •carrying of Dominion prohibition i& as certain as sunrise. But to secure these votes for continuance, the trade must revolutionise . its;?!1 methods. Promises of amendment and 'the faint efforts at reform that Are usual during the few montns preceding a poll will no longer:serv6:;:thteyhave been proved time* after' time to be a sham. The trade must be mended, or it will assuredly be '&i(le&; and that for reasons' which, it is' within its power to. remedy. The prohibition party, on the other: hand, will do well if it ceases its perpetual agitation for further restrictive legislation, and ■devotes some of its wonderful energy to' the educational side of its' work, which has been too greatly neglected in'the past. A people can be taught to be temperate without involving the bitterness that 'arises from incest saint' attempts- to coerce them, by law. The pfohibitibh party have succeeded, it is fi'uej in miikiftg the retail sa^le of liqtior illegal in'some districts of New 2tealaiid, but that they have not diminished the drinking habits of tlie people is clearly shown by the i steady annual increase >ri the con- | sumption o ff litiuorl :It 4s a,', reflec- j ti'oh upon their methods- that', the | year .in which the heaviest prohibition vote yet recorded was oast in the Dominion' also witnessed the Domini- | ion's heaviest )^rink , bilL ' Botli parties! liia*o , nriicli 'need to amend - their wa^"ip":ti&ey desire V 'settlement | •of tbis ;^tSp|dtt ; *whie'h^Bha-U be in the best in]tetesl|-dffthe people.'.'