PREMIER AND PUBLICANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

PREMIER AND PUBLICANS.

MR, BALFOUR. TAKEN TO TASK IN

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The speech which Mr. Balloui recently made to a deputation of licensed victuallers, in which he condemned the action or licensing magistrates in withdrawing large numbers of licenses, was severely criticised in the House of Commons on April 8 by Mr. LlovdGeorge and Sir Henry Camp'bell-Banner-man. Mr. Lloyd-George charged the Premier with interfering in a matter that was still under appeal to the quarter sessions purely and obviously for electioneering purposes. "C.-B." supported that accusation in milder terms.

The Prime Minister professed himself unrepentant and without remorse. The magistrates did not sit as a " Court" but as an administrative body, and by that the whole charge fell to the ground. Was the Prime Minister, because of his position, to be alone prevented from making comments on the new policy of the licensing magistrates?

He had always been of opinion that if on any great scale licenses are taken away simply because they are not required compensation must be (riven. That was the creed and beliei of the Unionist Party. Except on that basis it could not be expected that the trade could be properly conducted, for no man of substance or character would embark in it.