LIQUOR LEGISLATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20402, 2 November 1929, Page 13

LIQUOR LEGISLATION.

VOTIIMG IN NOVA SCOTIA. STATE CONTROL FAVOURED. (Received November 1, 8.45 p.m.) HALIFAX. Oct, 31. The people of Nova Scotia in a plebiscite taken to-day voted against the Temperance Act, which is at present in force, and in favour of Government control of liquor, by a majority of more than 28,000 votes. Nova Scotia has joined the majority of the other Provinces of Canada by deciding by the "referendum to inaugurate a system of selling liquor in Government Btores.

Up to now this Maritime Province had localised prohibition, and had tried a variety of schemes which had proved to be unsatisfactory. More than ninetenths oi! Canada is now .served under Government control. The Province of Quebec has gone the farthest, by allowing beer and wine to be served in licensed restaurants.

British Columbia has Government beer parlours, and all Canada is reaping tremendous profits from the of liquor, especially to American tourists, millions of whom flock over the border. The result of to-day's referendum and of yesterday's: provincial election in Ontario indicate the popularity of this system.

Nova Scotia has a population of about 530.000 persons. The question of the control of liquor has been before the Provincial Governments and the Dominion Government for some time. In March, 1927. attempt, were made in the Nova Scotia Legislature to amend the provincial Temperance Act without success, and a motion that there should be effected legislation substituting for the Temperance Act a system of Government control of liquor was lost, and amendment by the Premier. Mr E, N. Rhodes, was carried, to the effect that as the electors had not had an opportunity of expressing their views, no Sii. A,ng« tt. traffic should be made at present.