OTHER VIEWS
(From Our Owk Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, November 11
Though members are prepared to talk about the proposed licensing legislation
privately, they are not as a rule prepared to say anything of importance for publication. Some members are inclined to rather resent the settlement of the que&tion by a conference outside Parliament, and the great body of Moderates may a-leo object to such tactics, especially as they appear to have been altogether ignored. During the course of the afternoon I have had conversations with various members of the New Zealand Alliance, and also with persons who are not prohibitionists. Many of the latter think that the proposals enumerated above, but more especially the national option i&sue, -will mean a set-back to prohibition, for, as they point out, many " Moderates " vote for local prohibition, knowing that under it they can obtain liquor for consumption in their own homes, whereas they" would not vote for it under the new proposal, as Dominion option might be carried and they would then not obtain any -liquor for private consumption. The prohibitionists, however, seem willing to take this risk, hoping, no doubt, that in time they will obtain a sufficient majority to carry national option. Indeed, one prominent reformer to whom I spoke a member of the Upper House^ — expressed his confidence that they would be id a position- to carry it at the next .election, especially with the reduced majority agreed upon One man interested in "the trade, on being asked why the Liquor party had given away co much, said that they were getting tired of, the present position, which was highly unsatisfactory and which had cost them an enormoufe cum Cjf money, which, if otherwise invested, would have brought them in a satibfactory' return, without half the worry and risk.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 32
Word Count
298OTHER VIEWS Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 32
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