THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13095, 7 February 1906, Page 6

THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

RESOLUTIONS BY THE NEW ZEA-

LAND ALLIANCE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.]

Welll.vgxo.v, Tuesday. The following resolutions were passed at a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Alliance: —

" That the executive strongly recommends the no-liccnsc party all through the colony to take steps to secure the election of temperance licensing committees, for the following reasons:—(l) That, while recognising that we have already asserted our freedom from moral complicity in the drinktraffic by voting for its total abolition, we nevertheless feel that we are still under an obligation to mitigate its evils, and rescue its victims. to the utmost extent of the power that remains to us. (2) That iu districts where reduction has been carried, a temperanco licensing committee is required I to secure the full fruits of victory by the closing of the most undesirable of the public bars. (3) That in districts where the complete no-license victory has not yet been gained, we are justified in seeking to secure no-license for as many hours of the day and night as possible, and believe that by insisting on closing at ten o'clock (which is the legal hour), and a sharp look-out being kept on the trade, mucn drinking and much suffering to the community may be prevented. (4) That even where neither reduction of licenses nor limitation of hours of sale is secured, a committee which is not subject to the influence of the trade can render valuable service by—(a) Preventing the collusive removal of publicans' licenses; (b) preventing the indefinite increase of wholesale licenses which the law at present allows; and (c) strict enforcement of the law generally. (5) That the executive heartily congratulates the people of Invercargill and their returning officer upon the fact that the poll is proved to have been so well conducted that no technical irregularities have availed to defeat the popular vote, and regrets that the- Newtown electorate did not get the advantage of the same interpretation of the law which prevents no-license - votes, rendered informal by official default, from counting against nolicense."