Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8700, 20 December 1899, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20.

LIQUOE LEGISLATION. It seems pretty well understood that there will be an attempt made during the course of next session of Parliament to' amead the liquor laws of the colony. The direction in which such effort is likely to go has been variously staled. It' is said that Parliament will be asked to extend the period for the taking of looal option polls from three to seven yearß, and the New Zealand Times, the Ministerial organ at Wellington, says the deloliug of the " reduction" issue from the ballot paper and the qualifying of the harshness of the provisions relating to endorsement of licenses are also proposals that will be submitted. To this, the Lyttelton Times, another Ministerial paper, replies : " We are inclined to think that in advocating the abolition of the reduction issue and the extension of the licensing poll period from three to nine years, the New Zealand Times is merely flying a kite on behalf oi'Jbhe brewers and publicans. If there is anything more serious in the proposals, and an attempt is'roade to bring them up in Parliament, we trust they will be- promptly and emphatically rejected. Most of the membevs returned were elected on the tacit or explicit understanding that they would give ihe present law a fair and extended trial, and if they should listen now to the blandishments ond suggestions of the liquor traders, they will only succeed in forfeiting the confidence of their constituents and probably in wrecking the Liberal Party." We are inclined to agree with the Christchurch paper. The public have raised no quarrel with the local option vote — they have shown themselves quite competent to comprehend and exercise it in iv simple and easy manner, and as the issues are framed they give a fair opportunity to the voters to express their will with regard to the traffic. If the representatives'nf the Trade wish to put off the evil day of Prohibition, they will confine their efforts to seeming some amendment of the law that will bring about the better conduct of licensed houses. They must recognise that it is the ill-conduot of the lower class of public-houses that is causing many people to be dissatisfied with the present system of licensing and gives a handle to their opponents— the Prohibitionists. If they studied their own interests they would look upon the policeman as their ally, and not their enemy, and would Beel: to invest him with greater powers for the Buppjresaion of illegal trading. Mr 'unbnnpiiCbiiiinisaionor of Police, in his la'sl report to Parliament, spoke of the difficulty the police experience in dealing with Sunday trading, which, he said r was resorted to by many unscrupulous publicans who have but little stake in the houses they oonduot. The police, th c

Commissioner declares, will never be able to cope with this class of ollbnco until the law is amended on the lines of section 25 of the Imperial Act (1872). This section makes, inter alia, all persons found in licensed premises during prohibited hours liable to penalties, unless they are boarders iv the house, or can prove that they are there on legitimate business. Colonel Hume, when Commissioner of Police, repeatedly recommended the inclusion in the licensing laws of a similar provision, and the Trade, if they are wise and will sco, as other people see, that their chief foes are those of their own household, will instruct their representatives in Parliament not to oppose any such au amendment of the law.