THE LICENSING ISSUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14219, 16 November 1909, Page 6

THE LICENSING ISSUE.

SPUR TO PARTY ENTHUSIASM.

AN ELASTIC COMPACT.

CONCERNING- SACRAMENTAL WINE.

BT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

•Wellington*, Monday. The all-important factor in the new order of things, should the compromise arrived at on the licensing question be, passed into law, will, in the opinion of the Rev. W. R. Tuck (now of this .city, but who figured prominently in the no-license fight at Auckland last, year), be the widening of the party's horizon. One way in which additional enthusiasm will manifest itself, it is averred, will be in the untying of pursestrings. Mr. Tuck, in conversing with a New Zealand Times representative, recalled one supporter who came to light with £50 last campaign, and observed, when filling in the cheque, "Were it a question of Dominion prohibition, this cheque would be for £500, not £50." "Then," said Mr. Tuck,: "we 'can hold up to voters the fact that on the amended requirements we were within lj per- cent, of victory at last poll, and that, if a relative rate of increase discloses itself at this poll, victory is ours. The potency. of • claims of so striking a nature must be enormous, and will go a long way to ensuring success." The principle embodied in the proposal to extend the period of grace in the event of local no-license being carried is endorsed by Mr. Tuck. " I have always thought," he said, " that six months was rather too short a time to allow ..licensees ■ and owners to wind up. and I believe the concession will win us a lot of sympathy. Many who withheld their votes on the score of individual hardship will now be disposed to support us."

"We are assured," said the Rev. John Dawson,, secretary > of .the Alliance, . " that an amending Bill embodying the various reforms already promised relating to bottle licenses, liquor in the King Country, etc., will be brought down this session." A single Bill, embodying both sets of amendments, had been contemplated, but partition was now accepted as inevitable. Referring to comments published since he was interviewed on Friday, Mr. Dawson said the absurd view that the platform arrived at between the parties was to be regarded as a hard and fast compact, from which there could be no deviation, and which was to be embodied in legislation in toto, or not at all, appeared to have taken hold of » great many people. Those who deduced this quite misinterpreted the position. The executive was faced with the alternative of arriving at a mutual understanding with' "the trade" regarding the lines upon which amendments ' acceptable to both parties should proceed, or abandoning all- present hope of amendment of the laws relating to the local option poll. A point upon which some concern has been expressed by Church members is the omission from the agreement of provision for the importation of sacramental wines m the event of national prohibition. Asked whether the matter had been considered by the conference, Mr."Dawson said it had, and it was expected that such a provision would be included in the Bill.

FEELING IN THE LOBBIES. OPPOSITION, TO THE, COMPROMISE. [by TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL correspondent.] ! ,„1~, - v Wellington, Monday.. -. The interest that was created . by. the announcement of the licensing proposals has somewhat abated, the matter being no longer discussed with the eagerness with which it was talked over in the lobbies and at the bar of Bellamy's last week. The subject is still a lobby topic, but there is notnow so much excitement evinced in regard to it. Should the matter get on to the floor of the House considerable opposition may be looked for in regard to the " no license, no liquor." proposal provided for as a corollary to the carrying of national no-license. Many supporters of the-No-license party see in this a source of probable weakness to their cause. The five years' grace proposal is also likely to be attacked. - The proposed abolition of the reduction issue, whilst it has much support, does not meet with unanimous approval, and an attempt may be' made to' retain it if the Bill gets into committee. It is. still t, considered very problematical whether there will be any chance of the Bill being passed into law this session.

"NO COMPROMISE."

PROHIBITIONIST MEETING.

A public meeting of members of temperance societies and others, convened by Mr. Wm. Richardson, was "held in the Hibernian Hall last evening to protest against the licensing compromise. Mr. H. N. Bagnall presided over a fair attendance. Mr. Richardson maintained that the Nolicense. party, had- always, takervo"no- license, ho liquor," as their line of action, and when Mr. Seddon offered it to them Mr. F. W. Isitt took it upon himself to say, "We haven't asked for it." That was the first blunder and since then onelbliinder had led to another. The party's representatives ought to have Stood to Dominion option and the bare majority. He (Mr. . Richardson) nearly had a fit when he heard the matter had been put in the hands of Mr. Laurenson and such a man as Mr. T. E. Taylor ignored. The party should make no compromises on the question. They had a majority of 33,000 votes ; therefore why be cowards? In conclusion, Mr. Richardson protested against allowing the brewers five years,to clear their stocks. He would not give them 12 minutes. In his opinion the prohibition movement, had gone back 20 years through the recent actions. He moved, "That this meeting of Auckland citizens protests against the compact recently made with the liquor party by the officials of the New Zealand Alliance, on the ground that the prohibition of the liquor traffic is a national question and the policy of the movement should be dictated not by a small clique or section of the party, but by a colonial convention representing all sections of the people. Further, it affirms that no legislation will be satisfactory which does not make the issues of both local and Dominion option determinable by the bare majority, to take effect at no longer an interval afterwards than at present obtains, and it appeals to the New Zealand Alliance to make it clear to the Government and Parliament that no compromise of the just rights of the people in this respect will be accepted by the No-license party.". .. Mr. J. Walsh seconded.

The motion on being put to the meeting was carried by a large majority, only two persons voting against it. A resolution was also passed protesting against the granting of licenses in the King Country. . °

At the Church of Christ, Avondale, on Sunday the following resolution was carried :—"Resolved that we, the members of the Church of Christ, meeting at Avondale. repudiate the unrighteous compact entered into between the officials of the New Zealand Alliance and the liquor party, and enter our Strongest protest against ' Parliament legislating in order to give effect to such compact. That the above resolution be published in the daily papers.