THE LIQUOR LAWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14049, 20 July 1916, Page 8

THE LIQUOR LAWS.

RESOLUTIONS BY TRADE AND ALLIANCE. PROTEST AGAINST ISSUE OF , MANUTAHI LICENSE, (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The Amalgamated licensed Victuallers'' Association to-day passed the following insolations : (1) That the agitation direc-, (ted against the licensed trade by proliihitionists is unpatriotic, unreasonable, >and unwarrantable ,• (a) unpatriotic because it is tending to create class prejudice ahd embitter feeling among different sections of the community at a time .when we should be in accord to overthrow the road hogs elf Europe; (b) unreasonable ih that it would violate the pledge or "scrap of paper" given by the (people at the ballot box in 1914, when, "by an Overwhelming majority, the electors declared .against any interference with the licensing system, until at* least ] 1917 ; (c) and unwarrantable in that any interference -with tlio licensing systein now would be in direct opposition to the voice and mandate of the people and a violation of the pledge given by' the people last elections to the trade. (2) That, reEying upon the deolared will bf the people, "members of the trade have entered into rebuilding and various other •contracts, and any alteration in the hours bf licensing nbw would ribt only bo contrary to the people's pledge to the trade, but. would involve the trade in incalculable foss. (3) That, in view of .the 'bvideheboif the Dctfence Minister himself ftnd his responsible advisers, Colonel Pottea* and Cblonel Adams, thei*e is absolutely no military necessity for any agitation for any 'alteration in the present, licensing law, either by proclamation or otherwise. The New 7ealand Alliance to-day adopted the following resolutions: (1) That we enter an emphatic protest against the action of the Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee, in granting the transfer of a license from Ohiwa, near Opotiki, to Manutahi, in the Tuparoa. district, between East Cape and Gisborne, and, believing this action is in COhtravention of the licensing law, we request the Minister (for Justice to have, the matter inquired into, and, if it is found to ho illegal, to -have the said license quashed, athd, if it be necessary then to have legislation passed this session which will prevent further abuses in this way. { , (2) That we tendei- our hearty cbhgrattilatibns to GdlcWel Logan, Admuiistratoi; of Sambb, for his success,ful efforts in dbolislimg the "wet canteen" when he found that it worked for the. injury of the soldiers . who are therefor tho defenoe of the Empire. (3) That we are strengthened in o>ur conviction of the noed for '6 o'clock closing of liquor bars during the war period by every phase of "evidence -ivhibh' conies ore us. . Having coiTesponded with the mayors, of 60 of the largest boroughs in the Do« minion, and having received answers from 50 of them, and finding that while 15 of them prdifer not to give a specific i answer, only six are opposed- and 29 are heartily "in "favor of closing at 6 p.m., we further urge, upon the Government the great national duty of legislating at once to secure the closing of bars at 6 p.m., or else provide for a referendum by which the -people can decide for 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 o'clock as the closing hour, )vhich decision may become .effective without a day's unnecessary delay.