THE LICENSING BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 12661, 15 September 1904, Page 5

THE LICENSING BILL.

CHRISTCHTJRCH COUNCIL. OF : .... CHURCHES DISAPPROVES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CiiruSTCHUßcn*, Wednesday. The Christchureh Council of the Churches yesterday passed the following resolutions regarding the Licensing Bill:— this meeting of the Christchureh Council of the Churches strongly disapproves of the Licensing Act Amendment Bill as a whole, as introduced by the Premier, and pledges itself by all possible means to prevent the Bill in its present form from becoming law. It protests, inter alia, against clauses 9 and 10, as introducing confusion of issue and tending to defeat the fairness of the licensing poll; against clauses 25 and 26, on the ground that State control of the liquor traffic has not been asked for by any considerable section of the public, and has never been put before the people as a separate definite issue;' against the inclusion of clauses 14 to 22 in the Bill, making necessary amendments in the electoral machinery contingent upon the passing of a measure abounding in concessions to the liquor traffic, and restrictions on popular power to control it ; against clause 11, preferring the retention of clause 33 of the 1895 Act. The council further protests against the neglect of the Government and the House to provide redress for the wrong suffered by the electors of Newtown and Bruce, who through the imperfect state of the law are compelled to submit to the continuance of the traffic, against which they voted by an overwhelming majority at the last poll, and calls on Parliament not to allow the present session to clos» without making the.necessary provision to prevent the recurrence of such cases.