THE LICENSING ISSUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18357, 24 March 1923, Page 10

THE LICENSING ISSUE.

PROHIBITIONISTS' TESTS.

MR. MAOMILLAN ENDORSED.

SATISFACTORY REPLIES.

[BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TAURANGA. Friday The prohibition party publish to-day the following questions and answers received from Mr. C. E. Macmiilan, Reform candidate for Tauranga. On account of the nature of the replies and the fact that none are yet to hand from Sir Joseph Ward the party has advised its branches throughout the electorate j,o lend all suport possible to Mr Macmiilan. Appended are the questions and Mr Macmillan's replies thereto:—(l) Will you if elected use your best efforts by voice and vote to secure the limitation of the issues on the ballot paper to two, continuance and prohibition, so that the people may for the first time have an opportunity of giving a clear and unfettered vote on the licensing questions To this question Mr. Macmiilan replied : I am given to understand that all changes relating to the liquor laws are made by a compromise between the leaders of the opposing parties. An agreement was entered into between the leaders of the parties by which, in consideration for making prohibition effective by a bare majority instead of a three-fifths majority, the issue of State! control was inserted on the ballot papers, the votes cast in favour of State control being counted as continuance votes. If this agreement is in force I shall support it if returned. If upon investigation I find that this agreement does not exist, I shall accede to No. 1 question. (2) Will you support the continued right of the people to decide all licensing matters by a simple majority vote? Mr. Macmiilan: Yes, decidodly. (3) Will you support the honourable observance of the agreement made by the Government with the Maoris in 1884 by which the sale of alcoholic liquor is prohibited in the King Country Mr. Macmiilan: Yes, certainly. (4) Will you, if elected, oppose (a) any extension of the period ( between the carrying of national prohibition and its coming into operation? Mr. Macmiilan: Yes. " (b) Any attempt to extend the present hours of sale —9 a.m. to 6 p.m.? Mr. Macmiilan: -Yet, (c) Any redistribution of licenses contrary to the present law? Mr. Macmiilan: lit my opinion, if a three-fifths majority of electors in a locality of over 1000 electors decide in favour of obtaining a license from some other part of the district which may be over-licensed I consider their wishes should be acceded to. (d) Any retrogade licensing legislation that will in any way increase facilities for extending the privileges of the liquor traffic ? Mr. Macmiilan: lam opposed to any extension, retrograde or otherwise, of the privileges of the liquor traffic. With regard to question (1), the prohibition party adds a note that no agreement such as Sir. Macmiilan mentioned was ever entered into by the prohibition party.