LICENSING QUESTIONS.

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 97, 26 April 1916, Page 6

LICENSING QUESTIONS.

EARLY CLOSING AND ANTI-

"SHOIiTiNG

MODERATE LEAGUE'S VIEWS

At a meeting or biie central executive of tiie Now Zealand Moderate League, ohe following resolution was passed for forwarding to the Government:— "The executive of the New Zealand Moderate; League congratulates the Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence upon the manner in which, by citing military records, and by their recognition of plain facts, r-hey have cleared the good name of our .soldiers from the direct and implied accusations _of excessive drinking, and, having regard to the expressed disposition of Government to introduce legislation affecting the licensing question resolve as follows:—-

"1. Tli-at, in view of the reply to the league's questions received i'rom the- Minister f'oi- Defence, the subse-, quen.fc.ly published figures from the military authorities, ami the recent gtatenvoliits of the Prime Minister nn.d ilid Minister lor Defence, combined with me- proved exemplary behavior ;:nd sobriety of the men of our Expeditionary Forces, the. evidence accumulated does not indicuta any need for alterations in the prwera licensing regulations on the ground of military exigency, and there'ore- the Moderate League is of the opinion that no restrictive measures are justifiable on that

ground. "2. That such quesiions as early closing »nd iuiti-shoniirig must theveI'ore he viowod puiely from the point of view /f tlK'iv necessity or otherwise For the wpll-beinp; of our civi!i;tn life and dm population us a whole, and this being that they sF-ioukl be considered only as a possible part of a .studied . :;nd co-mprel).ensive liconsmg policy, and,.should, be niqde the sjubjtx^t of full inquiry, in .common with the suggestions already placed before Ckrvernnvjn.t by tlie Motlera!;o Leagin;, at such time us Parli^nent and Hie people can do'il calmly and, judicially with, this very invoVed questioii. "3. Tliaf any proposals in the nature of panic legislation or temporary measures aae dangerous and without warrant on the evidence adduced, and chat ilterations to tho licensing law should only be made with ? view to'permanent reform, on r>roof, iiiter taorough investigation, of their pi-oba-ble benefit^ their efficiency, and the practicability of effective administvai'ion. "4. Tiiat it be tlie recommendation of Iho Leagsiie to Government that no partial licensing legislation be attempted until the whole question <ian be :nade the subject of a cvaimiKsion of inquiry at such time as Government considers advii-oWe, with a view k) 1 ornmiutiiig a bold policy of licensing reform."