LICENSING LEGISLATION.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 93, 5 August 1895, Page 2

LICENSING LEGISLATION.

Referring to the new Licensings Bills introduced by Mr McNab and the Government, respectively, the Evening Post, in a somewhat lengthy article, says . . . The last licensing elections showed the highest point prohibition is ever likely to reach in this colony. Its strength even then was not vary formidable, and we do think it will ever be so strong again. On that ocoasiomraany moderate people voted with the Prohibitionists, because they thought some licensing reform necessary, and wished to give a strong hint to_ the trade to amend its ways, But the disreputable extremes in language which its supporters have used, and the immoral practices, in order to carry their ends, to which the Prohibition Parly, especially in the South has resorted, have disgusted moderate men, who, however anxious for the strictj regulation of the trade, will never again identify themselves with the Party. We believe that the wisest and safest course for the Government would be to openly and directly defy the Prohibitionists, and refuse to recognise National Prohibition as | a question within the scope of practical politics. We object to the principle of the direct veto. The ballot-box is the very tribunal which should be appealed to for ths direct decision of any question of legislatn or administration. The direct vote is contrary to, and quite subversive of, all the prin ciplesjof representative government, and it precludes all possibility of the grave judicial deliberation and weighing of facts and evidence which are essential to a just decision in regard to interests such as those involved under the Licensing Law. We loathe the plebiscitum in any form or shape, as being entirely opposed to every standard principal of English law and procedure, whether as regards matters of legislation or administration. As the Ministerial Bill provides for the direct vote, we cannot express approval of its cardinal point. Further than this, we contend that Parliament is exceeding its legitimate functions and acting mischievously, in providing special facilities to enable a minority to keep an injurious agitation continually simmering, in the hope that some day or other it may grow into a majority.