NO-LIUENSE CONVENTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 80

NO-LIUENSE CONVENTIONS.

AUCKLAND, June 3.-

The No-license Convention to-day was largely attended. Delegates from all parts of the province advocated that the Shop Horn's Act be made to apply to hotels, the abolition of barmaids, one license one bar, and extended powers to licensing commit* tees. They also protested against the transfer of licenses over the quarter of a mila limit.

A paper written by Mr A. S. Adams, of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand! Allianco, entitled " Our Legislation Programme," was read by the Rev. A. DoulU A resolution waa adopted — " That publichouses and bare should be brought under the) provisions and restrictions of the Shop Hours Act." It was explained that this wag meant to refer to the weekly half-holiday. A motion was also carried that tho hours of a hotel be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. maximum, and 8 am. to 6 p.m. minimum, extension; or curtailment of minimum to be decided! by the respective licensing committece. A 1 paper entitled "The Abolition of Barmaids," by Miss Jessie Mackay, was read by Miss A. J. Oaley. This was enthusiastically received. A third, prepared and read by Mr A. Thome, was entitled " One License On© Bar," after which followed a discussion oit the papers, when resolutions in favour of tho opinions expressed in them were carried* Other papers were also read and di(3cusssd r and a resolution was passed congratulating the council of the U.K. Alliance on the celebration of the jubiloo of the society. PALMERSTON NORTH, June 3.

The No-license Conference resumed today. Speakjing on the. irregularities of the local option poll, Mr A. R. Atkinsom said the reernt upsetting of the Newtown and Bruce elections proved that there wa3 needed somo higher authoritative and more independent man than a magistrate. The following resolution was carried: "That whereas the verdict of the people recorded for no-license by the necessary three-fifths majority in Bruoe and Newtown has been upset upon grounds which related solely to the default of the officials conducting the polls, had nothing to do with the merits of the questions at issue, and would equally have invalidated any election ever held, be it resolved that the present procedure for inquiry into the result of local option polls should be forthwith amended so that no poll shall bo upset unless it be shown that bub for tho proved irregularities the result would have been different, and that in th© event of any poll being declared void n new poll shall immediately thereupon be taken in the district concerned." Resolutions wore also passed protesting against an extension of time between the taking of the locnl option poll, in favour of temperance teaching in schools, and thanking the Government for doing what it could to make the no-licence poll effective by refusing a charter to a olub and closing tlie railway refreshment rooms at Ashburton. At a publia meeting in the even ; mg a resolution was carried to th© effect that, the conference regretted the Liquor party had been enabled! to upset, by means of legal technicalities, the will of the people in two places, ami requesting Parliament to toko immediate eteps to safeguard th© decisions co pronounced and to enable the fate of th« liquor traffic to be decided on its mefits.