THE LICENSING BILL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20287, 21 December 1927, Page 3

THE LICENSING BILL.

RESOLUTIONS OF TEMPERANCE COUNCIL.

The following resolutions were passed lit a special meeting of the Otago United Temperance Reform Council on Monday: “ That the Otago United Temperance Reform Council desires to express its appreciation of the very fine services rendered to the cause of national prohibition by Messrs E. P. Lee, M.P. for Oamaru, and J. M'Combs, M.P. for Lyttelton, in the recent struggle in Parliament on the Licensing Bill. The council desires to recognise the marked ability and levelheaded leadership given to the House by the above members, and thanks them for their whole-hearted services to the cause of sobriety and progress.” “ That the Otago United Temperance Reform Council desires sincerely to thank the following Otago members of Parliament for faithfully carrying out their promises .(given publicly to the electors of their constituencies prior to the 1925 parliamentary election) on questions govern ing the holding of the triennial poll on the liquor question: —Sir Charles E. Statham, Mr W. Downie Stewart, and Messrs J. Bitchener, J. M‘C. Dickson, E. P. Lee,' T. K. Sidey, H. L. Tapley, and Frederick Waite, also sincerely to thank the Hons. J. A. Hanan, D. T. Fleming, A S. Malcolm, John M'Gregor, and G. M. Thomson, M.L.C.’s, for, their support of the rights of th e democracy and the principles of temperance reform, during the Bill’s passage through the Legislative Council.”

“ That the Otago United Temperance Reform Council, expresses its deepest re gret that Mr James Horn, M.P. for Wakatipu, has on every vital division on the recent Licensing Bill cast his vote for retrograde legislation, always against the present democratic rights of th e electors, and every time on the side of the vested interests of monopoly and of the liquor traffic.”

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SECRETARYSHIP.

10 THE EDITOR. Sxn, —I have no personal antipathy to Mr H. P. West, or even any objection, except on public grounds, to his appoinfcmen as secretary to the Chamber of Commerce, but I consider that the . principal is totally wrong and demands harsh criticism. Mr West, who was district traffic manager here, has been allowed by a complaisant department to retire on a pension of £'l7s a year, or thereabouts, before he has completed his 40 years’ service, in order to accept this appointment. Arc there not plenty of younger men, expert secretaries and accountants, capable of filling this position, without the committee appointing Mr West, who as far as one can judge, has no special qualifications, and already has a good living wage provided in the main by the Mr Spence, who was appointed secretary to the recent exhibition at a saliuv of £IOOO a year was already in receipt of a pension in the neighbourhood of £7CO a year, and ho chose as- his accountant a superannuated railway sei vant in receipt of a good pension. In Wellington. in perhaps the second largest life insurance company, wc find a superannuated Government Life, Insurance official in almost the highest position. In Mr Spence's ease it was only a temporary appointment, and he proved his worth, and I suppose no one can criticise tin- ytion of a public company, but none the less the question is a very serious one, and these appointments of superannuated civil servant' are a menace to the younger members of the community who are looking to better themselves. In the lower ranks of life this evil is still more apparent a' men in receipt of good pension? are undercutting =urh men as gardeners, collectors, and even clerks. It is not for me to propose a remedy, but I eertnlnU voire t >io opinion of interested

| , " .-ii, n a ! odv like the Chamber 1 of Commerce goes out-ide its own circle j ( n ~J, ,i a retired railway man for (his I prominent position. 1 Rmuv.iv Otficiai,.

S Largo enough to supply 2000 pair; of i head-phone? and 80 loud-speakers, the wireI less installation at the Lambeth Hospital, London. co=t nearly £ISOO. It is controlled and switched on by two clocks which need winding once a fortnight.