Restoration of Local Option Polls Urged

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 96, 24 April 1945, Page 5

Restoration of Local Option Polls Urged

N.Z. Alliance Presents Case To Licensing Commission

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 23. The general question of the continuance in the Dominion of the manulacture, distribution and sale of intoxicating liquors, and, if so in what form should it continue to be subject to the will of the people directly expressed by vote, was dealt with by Mr. F. Campbell tfpratt, in presenting the case for tho New Zealand Alliance before the Royal Commission on Licensing. Urging the retention of the national triennial licensing poll, Mr. ripratt said it brought to the notice of the people their responsibility fol- the continuance of the liquor traffic. It was one of the few restraints on the conduct of the trade by the people as distinct from the authorities. In the case of brewers it was the only limit placed on the perpetuity of their licenses except in case of misconduct.

If at any time more than two issues were submitted to the electors the principle of preferential voting should be axiplied, said Mr. fcipratt. The Alliance, lie added, could see no reason why the i>roposal for trust control, if axqiarently sux>ported by a considerable body of opinion, should not be submitted to the electors.

The continuance or establishment of the trade in each electorate or licensing district should be subject to the will of the which x»remises, licensed or prox>osed to be licensed, were situated such will should be expressed by means of local option polls, said Mr. fcqjratt. The local option existing x>rior to 1910 should be restored with two issues, “license” or “no-license,” and upon the carrying of no-license in any licensing district no retail or wholesale license should be permitted and no new brewery license should be granted in that district.

Failing the adoption of this proposal provision should be made for the holding of local option in any 44 license” district on a xietitiou of not less than 20 per cent, of the electors. In the case of a no-license district any poll for restoration should be taken only on a similar petition.

The Alliance favoured the principle of the bare majority for all polls, but until the re-introduction of local option polls it submitted that the present majority (three-fifths) for the carrying of restoration should be retained because under the present law a restoration poll once carried was final. As a prerequisite to the granting of a new license in any district the residents of the neighbourhood should have the right of vote by the same majority as applied in no-license electorates.

“We support the demands of the consumer that this monopolistic trade should be made to conform to the highest standards of service,’ * said Mr. Spratt. The Alliance claimed that tariff for tariff the trade gave no better accommodation in its hostelry business than did a private house, and as to bur trade there had been criticism ut prices and measures, public conveniences and sanitary arrangements in bars.

The Alliance urged that standard prices and measures be used in all places where liquor was sold or served to tho public. If the x>ractice were to charge as much for a small glass of beer as for a large glass, this was to be deprecated not only as an imposition upon the customer but also as an incentive to increased drinking.

The provision of board and lodging for the travelling public was ersential ly a separate and distinct trade from the i>ro\iding of liquor in a bar or lounge. A divorce by law of these functions would be in the best interests of the public. It would stimulate and encourage the training of a superior type of hostelkeeper and would defend the traveller from the impact of the drinking trade. It was submitted that there should be no extension of licenses to restaurants, cabarets or other places of amusement, including public dances. The Alliance deprecated most strongly any suggestion of drinking on the Continental system, particularly family drinking by which a man was able to take his wife and children into res--1 taurants and other places for the consumption of liquor.