THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 54

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

PARLIAMENTARY CONSIDERA-

TION PROMISED.

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER.

WELLINGTON, Juno 17. An undertaking to give Parliament an opportunity in the coming session to express its opinion upon the liquor issue wag given to a deputation from the New Zealand Alliance to-day by the Prime Minister (the Right Hon, J. G. Coates) who expressed the opinion that the Bill brought before the House last year did not have a fair run. The attitude adopted by the Alliance when it was introduced, without doubt, had the effect of preventing the Bill being fully considered by Parliament. The deputation numbered about 200 strong. Among those present were the Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout, M.L.C., the Hon. George Fowlds and the Ven. Archdeacon Russell (Oamaru). Mr T. Forsyth, M.P., introduced the deputation.

Mr Charles Todd (president of the Alliance) said all that they, the Prohibitionists, desired was that the Bill should havo a fair field with no favour. As a member of the Roman Catholic Church he was glad to know that even the most conservative church was now coming into line on tho Prohibition issue. They were utterly opposed to State Control, which would mean a great deal of bribery and corruption in New Zealand politics. If the liquor trade were t o continue they would far rather see it remain in private hands than come into the hands of tho State. The general secretary of tho Alliance (Mr C. R. Edmond) said the two principal suggestions they made last year were not included in the Bill—that ”no alcoholic liquor should be supplied to hotel guests or otherwise, during the hours when the sale of liquor to the general public is prohibited; and that n o licensed premises should be permitted to havo more than one bar. They considered that the ballot paper should contain. only the two real issues on the licensing question—national continuance and national prohibition. Tho third issue of State purchase and control was unreal and discredited. They opposed tho demand of the licensed liquor trade for an extension of between polls. In reply tho Prime Minister said. “I would like just t o point out to the New Zealand Alliance that to my mind the attitude taken tip by the Alliance when tho Government introduced the Licensing Bill last year had without doubt the effect of preventing to some extent, the Bill being fully considered by Parliament. That Bill was trounced. It was never looked at from the point of view of improving the trade.” The Prime Minister said he would reply to their requests by presenting a Bill to Parliament, which ho hoped would give the Legislature the opportunity they werft asking for—tc express its views on tho various questions that were in the minds of the people to-day. ELIMINATING STATE CONTROL PROTEST BY LICENSING REFORM ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, June 17. The Dominion Executive of the NeW Zealand Licensing Reform Association passed the following resolutions:... “That a vigorous protest be immediately voiced against the attempt of the New Zealand Alliance to dragoon Parliament into deleting the third issue of the licensing ballot paper.” ‘That the various sections opposed to prohibition and tho several branches of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association be called together in conference to decide on a course of united action and to place before the Prime Minister anil Parliament their views.” A WAIKATO PROTEST. HAMILTON. June 17. The Waikato branch of the Licensing Reform Association passed a resolutiort viewing with concern the action of a certain section of the people which aims at depriving the electors of the right to express their opinion on State Control.