STRONG PROTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25473, 1 March 1944, Page 4

STRONG PROTEST

INVERCARGILL LICENSING POSTPONEMENT OPPOSED (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Feb. 29. The strong feeling aroused ih Invercargill by the proposal of the Government to postpone the election of a Licensing Committee until' not later than September 12 and to return to a state of no-licence in the city in the meantime was shown by the large attendance at a meeting of protest tonight. The meeting was called at very short notice, but, in spite of that, the Victoria Concert Chaipber was filled to overflowing. . The following motion was carried without a single dissentient: — “That this meeting of Invercargill electors unanimously protests against any attempt by the Government of New Zealand to deprive the electors of Invercargill of their rights, ccmstitutionally won under the existing laws of this country by reverting Invercargill to the status of a no-licence district.” Mr Owen Smith, Mayor of South Invercargill, who presided, said tha course proposed by the Government was contrary to the principles of democracy. “It has been said that th 3 people of Invercargill did not know what they voted for, but when the resolution which will be put to this meeting reaches Wellington they will know what we voted for,” he said, in moving the resolution. Mr J. C. Prain said that if the Bill became law it would have the effect of rendsring inoperative the expressed will of the people. He added .the . while there might be some excu ! under existing war conditions for pc - - poning the date of the election of tha Licensing Committee, there could ba no excuse for flouting the will of tha electors by altering the law after a pod on a ausstion properly submitted to the electors.