The Government Licensing Bill.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6331, 12 August 1895, Page 4

The Government Licensing Bill.

The Government Licensing Bill, which has already passed its second reading, seeks to remedy the grave defects of the Atcohottc Liquors Sale Control Act of JS£>3; and in many respects it is a dis timet advance upon the existing law. It certainty does not go nearly so far as the BUt introduced by Mr M'Xab on behalf of the New Zealand Alliance; but that could hardly be expected. The Alliance Bill presents what may be regarded as the extreme demands of the Temperance Party, and we question if even the most sanguine member of the party really expected it to pas 3. All legislation is by compromise, and the Temperance Party wilt he wise to accept the Government Bill with certain essential amendments, as a reasonable concession. Compared with the Local Veto Bill introduced into the English Parliament by Sir W. Harcourt, which ww accepted by the Temperance party at Home, the Government measure is far in advance. The most striking feature of the Bill is its provision for colonial option. It provides thatonthe day of the general election, four issues shall be submitted to the electors : 1. That the number of licenses in the district continue.

2. That the number of ticen3ca in tbc district be redaod. 3. That no licenses be granted in the district. -{. That no licenses be granted in the colony. Kich elector nny vote for two of these issues. And if on calculating the votes recorded throughout the colony, the Minister finds that three-fifths of the voters are in favor of " no license " in the colony, then colonial no license shall be deemed to be carried, and after the expiry of twelve months, " it shall be unlawful," except as provided for in the Bill, under stringent regulations, " to import into the colony for any purpose, or to distil any spirituous liquor in the colony, or to manufacture in the colony any liquor for sale or barter, or to supply for removal therein or elsewhere beyond the colony, or to sell any liquor." Thus it will be seen that this measure puts within the power of the electors the absolute prohibition of the importation, manufacture, and sate of liquor throughout the whole colony. It has been urged that for a democratic Government to demand a 3 stbs majority on this orany question is to be inconsistent. But when the gTeat issues at stake are remembered, it will surely be recognised that tt is a wise provision. It would be f-»tal to the best interests of temperance if a bare majority carried colonial prohibition and say nut of 300.000 voters InO.OOI imposed their will upon 149.999. Moreover it needs a 3 sths majority to reverse local or colonial no license when once sr»ined— a quite consistent provision, and one which will render the reform far more permanent and enduring. The chief cause of comptainst against the Bill is the fact that the votes are not cumulative. The Act of 1893, provides that failing no license be tug carried the votes recorded for this shall be added to the reduction votes. This, however, is not the case in the present measure. A bare majority of votes carries "as you were." A bare majority carries " reduction." A 3-sths majority carries "no license." But if none of the proposals obtains the requisite majority then things remain "as you were" —a most illiberal provision, as will be readily seen. Suppose 6000 voters vote: -It would be. possible for the following to be the position : As you were.. 1 Reduce , ... 3*oo No License «. 3399 And yet " as you were " would be carried. That » to say, one voter might impose bis will upon 5999 because there was not a bare majority for reduction, nor a threefifths majority for no license. We.do not wonder that the leaden of the, temperance party have strongly condemned

soch "an iniquitous proposal" as it has been called, and we have no doubt that the House will insist upon an alteration. Votes given for " reduction " and •» no license " are certainlj given against •« as yon were," and {failing the requisite majority for "no license," these votes ought, in all justice, to be added to the reduction votes, as in the existing law.

There is another clause in the measure which needs amendment. Subsection 2 of section 4, provides that "If at any time Parliament is dissolved before it has been two years in existence, then at the taking of the electoral poll for the new Parliament no licensing poll be taken, but the result of the licensing p"oll taken at the then last previous general election shall continue in force until such poll is again taken simultaneously with the electoral poll next after the dissolution of such new Parliament." By this it becomes possible for the decision given at one licensing election to be operative for nearly five instead of for three years. Votes given at one election may thereby be of more value than votes given at another. This should be made impossible, the votes should be always of equal value, and the period of time should be a definite one.

If these points are amended, and the House will almost certainly amend them, then the Bill should prove acceptable to all true temperance reformers. They could hardly hope for" a more liberal measure from any Government. Apart from the provision for colonial prohibition there are other distinct improvements! in the existing law. The requirement that half the voters on the roll poll to render it valid is abolished ; clubs are put on the same footing as licenses, are subject to police supervision, and all charters are revoked if no license is carried ; _ bottle licenses and New Zealand wine licenses are abolished ; railway refreshment room licenses are subject to the no license vote. A repetition of the Clutha fiasco is guarded against, as no wholesale licenses can be granted in ano license district; any person against whom a prohibition order has been made, if found on licensed premises, is liable to a fine of L 1 0; any person who accompanies such prohibited person to licensed premises, or in any way, directly or indirectly, procures liquor for him, or incites or assists him to procure or drink liquor, is liable to a penalty of LlO • the sale of liquor to Maori women is prohibited under a similar penalty. These are the chief amendments proposed by the Bill, and they are all in favor of temperance reform.

The measure, if carried, will put into -the hands of the Temperance party an immense power, more indeed than they will be able to fully avail themselves of for some time to come. They be wise to accept it If it be amended in the direction indicated. To do so will set them free from the task of agitating for political reform, and enable them to prosecute the needful work of educating the people up to the point of using the power now within their reach. The Bill once upon the Statute Book and colonial prohibition will be measurably nearer; the power to secure it will be in the hands of the people ; and with fuller enlightenment as to the measureless evil of the drink traffic, we confidently anticipate the r.ot far distant day when our fair colony shall be absolutely and for ever rid of its great curse.