PUBLIC HOUSE REFORM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21199, 3 December 1930, Page 7

PUBLIC HOUSE REFORM.

STATE CONTROL SYSTEM. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, December 2. Speaking at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association the president (the Rev. P. T. Williams), who has just returned from a visit to Great Britain, said he had been amazed at the wonderful change for the better, from the temperance point of view, disclosed on every hand in England and Scotland. He felt sure that this was largely due to the sweeping advances made in public house reform which had followed the institution of the State control system in Carlisle and district. The licensed trade of England had been awakened to the importance of improving conditions if private ownership was to continue to exist in the Old Country. The provision of better environment thus created had done much to improve the self-respect and habits of the people. The old-time evidence of intemperance which he remembered when working in a parish in East London 40 years ago had entirely disappeared. He had personally inspected the so-called Carlisle system and had met leading clergymen of the district who all spoke in high terms of praise of the wonderful improvement effected under State control.