Our Licensing Laws.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7903, 1 August 1904, Page 2

Our Licensing Laws.

Deputation to the Premier

The Temperance Party's

Views

(Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, July 30. A large deputation, •■ representing tlie Prohibition party throughout the colony, waited on the Premier this afternoon. The ttev. J. Dawson-said the deputation represented a solid body of 15,000 voters of all shades of politics.

Mr A. E.. Atkinson said the deputation came in the name of democracy and justice, to iu-ge that the country should no I'oHgev be svrbjectcd to the outrage and scandal that had been revealed by the upsetting of the licensing polls in the Newtown and Bruce districts. ■ They did not ask for a substantial change in the licensing law. They simply wished to ensure that the.-powers,of the people over liquor licenses should, bo made a reality instead of a farce, as . the decision of - th'e Privy Council had unfortunately revealed them. They simply asked that Mr Tanner's regulation ot the Local Elections Act Amendment Bill be taken up by the Government and placed on the Statute Book this session- There was not a syllable in that Bill favouring 911c side more than another.

Representatives from Ashburton expressed indignation at the wild statements that were being made by their detractors, and gave instances of the success of the prohibition regime in the district. Some of the deputation entered. a bticmg protest against' Clause 9, which ihey declared was not.asked for or desired by the people of the colony..

The Hev. F. Tsitt stated 1 harmless tltair claim to have tho liquor traffic mado subject to the will oi the people was acceded to, 't would bo necessary to form a Temperance Party, although the 'peranco people did not want vo have this course forced 011 them.

Mr Seddon said he-had been" informed by a member ot Parliament that Mr Isitt had an understanding with1 Mr Masscy, leader of the Opposition. Was that so ? Mr Isitt replied '"' absolutely no." Ho had said nothing to Mr Masscy that he would oiot say'here.

3lr Seddon said ■ihc;/accoptetl that assurance. He went on to Bay, in reply to the request, that the importation and sale of lijquor iui the Cook group should be prohibited ; that so long as he was at the head of the Government the natives ire these islands would not be allowed to obtain liquor. Mernbors of tite Ministry were unanimous in desiring to guard the,natives, as far as possible, ag-ainst the evils of intoxicating liquors. He denied that Clause 9 was first suggested by him as a joke, and, referring to .voided polls, he declared tliat as far as he himself and his colleagues could go, the will of the people' should havo effect. The Government would make provision fcr the defection of law in. regard to a second poll in the Licensing Bill, but he could not say. tha'fc the Government would take up Mt Tanner's' ; Bill, as the Government already had a Bill prepared which would be satisfactory to the deputation and. would meet wli>at tfey desired in the matter.. It had been suggested that the principle embodied in Clause 9 sKould he referred to a vote of the people at the next general election. Tire views of the deputation would be oarqfully; eonsidered by Cabinet. He had never made the licensing- 'question <& party question, and would never do so; the Licensing Bill and the Eogulation of Local Elections Bill would be_ introduced by the Government ibis session, and, under the latter measure n, recurrence of tho Newtown and Bruce troubles would be impossible,. The Government wotildl do their best to- get these Bills on the Statute Book.