THE CLUB POINT OF VIEW

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12211, 8 August 1925, Page 7

THE CLUB POINT OF VIEW

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE’S REPORT Mr M, A. Carr, Associated dubs of New Zealand, said:. I regret to apologise for the absence this morning of Mr Skerrett, our president, who-asked me to apologise and say he was unable to attend owing to a very important engagement. As a representative of the Associated Clubs of - New' Zealand, comprising about 25,000 club members, I am pleased to associate myself with the representations made b.v the previous speakers ion behalf of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association. The organisation whioh I represent was called into being..' about seven years ago, when club members, who had hitherto taken no organised action as a body, felt compelled to organise to protect their social rights and privileges. 1 may say that club members have .always been on the side of temperance reform, and many of. them naye assisted in other bodies working' in this direction; We, however, felt ourselves to he, as it were, a football between the extreme factions, and .we felt it our duty, not only aa good citizens, but .also in the interests of our..institutions, to take an active part in ' pressing for reforms irt the licensing laws which would put the licensed business. on a more satisfactory basis from' the public point of view. From the inception of our organisation annual conferences have, been held when the whole licensing. question lias been reviewed. and our opinions as to practical refoims, made the subject of resolutions which have from time to time been placed before the Government. You have already been ; acquainted with these by the. deputation which waited on you from our conference last month I may say that we hailed with satisfaction the report of tbs special Parliamentary committee •on 'licensing, whioh . -recommended to Parliament many of the reforms advocated by us; but we were very disappointed when last year’s session came to an end with-, out legislation being introduced. 1 ! We realise that the vote of the whole of the electors settles the question as to whether this country shall have prohibition or otherwise, hut we are firmly convinced that while continuance obtains the efforts of all organised parties should be directed towards improving the present conditions. BUSINESS MEN WHO TRAVEL An important section 1 of onr particular organisation comprises business men who are compelled to travel, and they' are seriously affected, by tap lack of adequate accommodation in some parts :of New Zealand.' The insecurity of tenure which at present toasts is be-, lieved to be the cause. In view of the fact that the referendum, has been, submitted triennially for over thirty years, and. that the same answer has 1 icon given on each occasion, the vast amount of money expended ■ by the Government and ‘ the various contesting bodies, must appear to every reasonable person as an unjustified waeto. In addition to this there ia the tremendous diversion of human energy from normal channels, the bitterness created by factional feeling, and the clouding of the real political issues of > the country by that body which is calling upon its supporters, in voting for Parliamentary candidates, to put prohibition before party. Viewing this matter from all directions we are convinced that the heat interests of the country would be served by the extension of the period between the polls. The recommendations of the Now Zealand Licensing Reform Association, of which you have a copy,, have the endorsement and support of the. organisation I represent. With particular reference to corporate we believe that this proposal, which suggests placing the whole business under the control of a board having always a Government majority, and limiting the element of private gain would he of untold benefit. I can say that club members, and I believe a large proportion of the people of the Dominion, would welcome the opportunity of expressing their approval of corporate control as an effective and Workable measure of licensing reform. Onr thanks are due to the clergymen who brought forward the proposal, and we are heartened in our effort to save this Country froth the disaster of prohibition by tbe assistance of these reverend ;entlemen, whose broad minds and luman hearts, feeling the sense of responsibility for the welfare of the people, have directed them to publicly join with us in tbis request for muchneeded reform in the interests of true temperance and moderation.