NO-LICENSE PROCESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15646, 27 June 1914, Page 10

NO-LICENSE PROCESSION.

DEPUTATION TO' PREMIER. LICENSING LEGISLATION. REDUCTION OF MAJORITY SOUGHT. [BT IttBCBAJ*.— SSSOCIATIO!*.] 1 WbLUXOTOK, Friday. A TBMPKnANCB demoflitftttion was held to ' day by the New Zealand Alliance, a pro cession of several hundred members nun i ing to the Parliament Building* to wail upon the Prime Minister. The deputation was introduced by Mr. I, M. luU, MP , who said that it re presented every clam "i society. Mr. W. Bpr»gg (president) said that « cut of '6 doctorates were directly rejirewnted, and tho remaining ten were represents by delegate* The Alliance M "' d.:«iro to tec anr member of Pwljmbwl violate his pledge. even if it wcro eontrurj to the aims of the deputation. (»<»' hear.) The Alliance, ho said, maintain* tho right of the people to decide tho no license ,mw on the bare majonty, but lot the preeent, foresting difficulties ahead they naked tho Premier to givo Parliament every opportunity of affording the people such' me-isnre of justice as could be given by a'majoritv of the present IP/no* having regard to members' pledges. Increasing Majority. Mr. Dawson (Alliance secretory) re-id a memorial siting forth an increasing demand (or no license. He elated that the wiojuritv in IKS fur no-Hcenso was 307b. in th" next term it was 15 883, in the next 33.531. while in 1911 it amounted to 64.282. There could not be cessation ol debit* in Parliament and no absence of agitation outside, be said, until a reduction J of the present 60 per cent, majority had , been conceded, and for which the early introduction and *peedy passage of, a bill this session was demanded, seeing that a majority of the present members of Parliament were pledged to reduce the majority on liquor questions Mr. A F. Adams, Dunlin, stated '. •'. in 20 yea« tlw country had 'pent forty j million/', in liquor, while 120.000 uinvirtions for drunkenness were recorded. l'bo»" i a'ikin;' for ir-fonn were looking with intvn.w earnestness to tho Premier and Parliament to help in reducing a grwt evil which was drajping lb" community in th* dust. They repudiated the right of Parliament to decide or. the moral attitude, hut demanded a fair rig!'', bv a simple majority, for the people to '.-ride the question. Lady Member's Appeal. Mrs. Don (president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union) pleaded eloquently for the introduction of the reform requested on behalf of women and ! children. It was not revenue they wanted, ' she ~a:d. but good manhood. The Rev P.. S. Gray (Christchnrcb) said he recojni&?d the dutv and responsibility of Parliament to decide the question impartially between two great parties out side. He explained the working of the system of no-license in Ontario, Canada, where the vote was by a «im:4e majority, and there were less than 1 per cent. reversals. This proved there could be stabilitv even in a bare majority. They • were not prepared to be thwarted by Parliament They were no longer prepared ; to vote with one hand for a cause and i with the other for a man who would ' thwart th:> rants in Parliament

; tiiwan ma cause in raruamdnt. 1 • "Reasonable and Moderate." I 1 On rising to reply, the Prime Minister i was received with applause. He said ho j ! wanted in th? firs', place to express his I ■ appreciation of th» reasonable and rooder- ! at( manner in which the speakers had exj pr< scd their views. He could not agree i with every opinion that had been exi pressed, but he appreciated the modera- I I tion all the same. As far ?j the Bill was concerned, it was not necessary that, bo 1 should discuss it. Last session, as head , I of the Government, ho had stated that | Parliament would be given the oppor- . trinity of dealing with the liquor question 1 daring the session bv the introduction of ! j a Licensing Bill That Bill was intro- I 1 dnred and circulated last session. It was J ! referred to in the Governor's Speech, and ' I the promise he had made last session { I would be redeemed. As a matter of fact, j I ho propoped to eivo notice of the intro- ! auction of the Bill next Tuesday, and be , hoped it would be dealt with during the j period between tho conclusion of the de- 1 ! bate on the Address-ih-Rcply and the j commencement of the debate on tie Financial Statement. Members and their Pledges. Reference had been made to members' ' rledres. Tbev must understand that the ' Licensing Bill could never be a party I in the ordinary sense of the term. ! ] for the simple reason that men in both : j parties were pledged in different direc- , j tions. He' had not the slightest doubt ; that every member of Parliament bad ! made up bis mind as to the drrcction in [ which he would vote, either on the ] second reeding of the Bill or on the differ- j eft proposals which would be submitted • I during its committee stage. " I want to '• say," Mr. Maseey added, "that I hope ' that each member of the Houee will keep I the nledje he has made to his constituents j upon tho public platform, either by direct ; ! statement or implication." Proceeding. Mr Massev said be con- I i sider.d it to be the business and the duty J of the Government to give Parliament the I oppnrtunitv of expresMnj: an opinion upon j evcrv matter of public importance, and unI do»rt»edlv the licensing question came within that eateeory. No Government conld afford to ignore the question of revenue. They collected nearlv £900.000 per year from the liquor traffic. If national prohibition were carried, the Government could not nossiblv do without that revenue. The deficiency would have to bo made up. and time would be required to enable the Government to effect the change. , i