THE DIRECT VETO CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 35

THE DIRECT VETO CONFERENCE.

Wellington, July 6. 'At the sitting of the Direct Veto Convention to-day, Mr H. D. Bell (Mayor of Wellington) read a paper on "The Right of the People to the Direct Veto Without Compensation," and the Rev. Mr Walker one on "Prohibition and Public Revenue." At the close of the discussion on these papers the following resolutions were adopted: — "That in the opinion of this convention (1) greater moral injury and material loss are inflicted on this colony by the traffic in intoxicating liquor than by any other known cause ; (2) the universal experience of the last four centuries demonstrates that the systems of regulation of the liquor traffic have entirely failed; (3) both the commonwealth and the public exchequer would be enriched by the suppression of the liquor traffic, and under any circumstances it is morally wrong to maintain what is publicly injurious for the sake of deriving revenue from it ; (4-) it would be a gross injury to the people to create, by new legislation, any claim which the existing law does not recognise for compensation for nonrenewal of licenses; (5) the right of direct veto on the question of the continuance of the liquor traffic ought to be at once granted to the people." In the evening a deputation waited on the Premier to urge the Government to give every facility for the passing of the Direct Veto Bill. The Hon Mr Seddon promised to consult his colleagues and announce the position of the Government when the bill came up for its second reading. ' A public meeting, conducted by the New Zealand Alliance, was held this evening, when there was a laige attendance. The Mayor, who presided, said, as one who had no connection with the prohibition party, he wished to make an explanation respecting some remarks made by the Rev. Mr Isitt some three or four months since, which had in some quarters been alleged to be a reflection on the late Mr Ballance. He (Mr Bell) was chairman of that meeting, and he heard no single word concerning the late Premier which any reasonable person could have thought personally offensive. He desired to say this because an accusation had been made against the prohibition organisation by discrediting Mr Isitt as a man who had made a cowardly attack on Mr Ballance while on his deathbed. Several addresses were delivered, and at the conclusion a resolution was carried earnestly appealing'to the Legislature to pass the Direct Veto Bill this session, and also that the meeting pledges itself not to vote fer any candidate at the next election who will not give the people the right to the direct veto. DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. Wellington, July 6. Tho Premier was interviewed to-night by a deputation from the Direct Veto Convention on the subject of the Direct Veto Bill which has been introduoed into the House by Sir R. Stout. The deputation numbered 55 persons, and included representatives irom every temperance organisation in the colony. Among those present were Messrs E. Withy, Auckland ; D. N. Adams, Napier ; Rev. E. Walker, Wellington; Messrs W. G. Bassett, Wanganui; J. Bellringer, mayor of New Plymouth ; T. Pettit, Nelson ; Rev. R. Wood, Masterton ; Rev. J. S. Mills, Otaki ; Revs. L. M. and F. W. Isitt, Messrs G. J. Smith, and E. Taylor, Christchurch ; Mr W. 'J. Williams, Westport ; Rev. A. P. Muir, Rangiora; Mr R. Evans, Eaiapoi ; Messrs A. S. Adams and A. C. Broad, Dunedin. Included in the delegation were five representatives of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, among them being Miss Atkinson, of Nelson, and Miss M 'Guinness, of Christchurch. / Mr J. Joyce, member for Akaroa, introduced the deputation. Mr E. Withy, who acted as chairman of the convention, referred shortly to the work of that gathering, and said the object of the deputation was to urge on the Government to give every facility for the passage of the Direct Veto Bill. Members of the deputation had the greatest pleasure in approaching the Government, considering, as they did, that the present Ministry was the most advanced on social questions that had ever held sway in New Zealand. The measure was of a democratic character, inasmuch as it left the whole liquor question in the hands of the people, and allowed all residents in a district to say whether or not licenses should be granted. Mt A. S. Adams referred to the recent decisions of the Appeal Court and Supreme Court on the question, emphasising that under these decisions people were deprived of the right it was intended by the provisions of the Licensing Act they should exercise. The bill was a liberal measure in every respect, and he thought they were justified in placing it before a Liberal Government. He read a letter written by I Mr Cadman a short time ago, stating that there were no effectual means of grappling with the liquor traffic in the King country. He (Mr Adams) contended a similar state of affairs prevailed in other parts of the colony whore the regulation of the traffic had been taken out of the control of the people. The Jtev. Mr Walker, organiser of the New Zealand Alliance, pointed out that the Hon. Mr Seddon had on a previous occasion expressed his conviction that the people had a right to obtain what the temperance organisation were now striving for. He (Mr Walker) contended that public opinion was now rips for legislation of the nature of the Direct Veto Bill, and pointed out that at the last general election a small majority had been returned to the House pledged to support local option without compensation. Consequent on, the recent Supreme Court decision sone districts were labouring under a considerable amount of irritation, and he believed they had a majority in the House williDg to carry out their wishes. Mr Seddon said he could not give a decided answer to the deputation at present, as he could only speak for himself. The matter was one for the most serious consideration. He admitted that when a private member he had expressed a belief that the fullest power should be given to the people in regard to the control of the liquor traffic, and when a candidate for tho House he had observed that persons who invested in a certain class of property did so with their eyes open, and must take the risk. Those had been his views sines the passing of the Licensing Act. It must ba admitted that the law at the present time was in a very unsatisfactory state, but care must bo taken against such an important question being spruDg on Parliament, and beroro the people had reasonable time to consider it. He warned the deputation that from this line of argument their bill would meet the strongest opposition. They must remember that the proposed change involved a great constitutional question. He admitted that the last elections were in favour of the direct veto party, and he was of opinion that the people should be the judges of such a question, and any Government would be perfectly safe in leaving such a question in the hands of the people. Still it would be unwise and unstatesmanlike to prejudice any section by springing a surprise, and he thought the people should have an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the question. He believed the time was ripe for the proposed

legislation, but if the measure did not pass this session the question should be left open, and he would go as far as to say that the Government would not allow the position to be prejudiced by either party. He said this because it had been pointed out to him by one of the deputation that if the bill failed this session new licensing committees would be elected before Parliament again met, and these committees would hold sway for three years. He had had no opportunity of consulting with his colleagues on the subject, and he could only speak for the Government after tho matter had been considered by the Cabinet. The views of tho deputation would be laid before his colleagues, and when the bill came up for its second reading the position the Government; intended to take up on the matter would be announced. During his remarks, Mr Seddon paid a hightribute to the late Sir W. Fox, who had rendered yeoman service to the people of the colony, Thames, July 6. ' An enthusiastic public meeting was held tonight to consider the Direct Veto Bill now before Parliament, and the following resolution was unanimously carried :—" This meeting is strongly of opinion that the Direct Veto Bill, now before the House in charge of Sir R. Stout, is worthy of the support of all the people of New Zealand, and urges representatives of the people to give it their heartiest oupport." The Wellington Woollen Co.', hava replaced the 128 per Bhare written off in 1888 out of profits, leaving a balance of £685, and of the reserve of 6000 shares 6426 (sic) were taken up' lately. Gueymouth, July 6. A fairly well-attended public meeting was heM this eveniDg to discuss the Direct Veto Bill. Resolutions ' were carried :— (1) '«• That the time has arrived for parliamentary electors to say whether the sale of intoxicating liquors shall or shall not be prohibited, and the Government are looked to to facilitate legislation." (2) " That no compensation be provided for by the bill or in any other way." The resolutions were proposed by two ministers of religion. Invbkoargill, July 7. The direct veto meeting in the theatre was crowded, and resolutions similar to those adopted in other centres were parsed.