THE LICENSING PROBLEM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16805, 11 August 1925, Page 10

THE LICENSING PROBLEM.

CORPORATE CONTROL ISSUE,

A large deputation from the New Zealand Licensing Reform Asociation waited upon the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) to voice the wishes of the people represented by the Association on the subject of licensing control. The Prime Minister (whoso speech was telegraphed) stated that the Government would introduce legislation either this session, or if not then, certainly in the next Parliament. The matter, ho statod, was boforo Cabinet. Among those present was Dr. J. C. Collins, of Gisborne. The Veu. Archdeacon H. W. Williams, Dominion president of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association, said tVat the deputation was most representative. Delegates had come from all parts of New Zealand. The association embraced many members of the Anglican clergy who supported the proposal of corporate control and the general reform of the licensing system as opposed to prohibition; the New Zealand Moderate League, which since 1914 had represented the organised middle section; the Associated Clubs, with a membership of some twentylive thousand who had no financial interest in the licpior question from the point of view of private profit, and whose active participation in the work of the association sprang from .their desire to preserve their charters and r.s good citizens to assist a genuine movement for licensing reform. Then they had the licensed, trade in its several sections, which had joined the movement, on the invitation of the clergy, who had convened the original conference, and which stood voluntarily pledged to the proposals for reform advocated by the association. Ho wished to say particularly on behalf of the clergy associated with the movement that they were satisfied that the “ Trade’’ was sincerely desirous of seeing the association’s proposals put into legislative form at the' earliest possible moment. Criticism had been levelled against the “Trade’s’’ participation in their work; but every thinking person would agree that the sympathetic co-pperntion of the licensed trade was one of the most im** portant factors in the practical application of legislative reform of the licensing system. OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

Briefly put, the objects of the association were very plain. They were opposed to prohibition because they did not look upon it as a reform, and that its application would 'create worse conditions than existed. They stood tor the right of tho electors to declare for a middle course of reform at the ballot, and suggested that the corporate control proposal should take tho place of tho presont third issue of State purchase. Realising that it would take time to bring about any sweeping chnngo, they asked for certain radical reforms of the law governing the present system of private ownership. They asked that the Government should carry out tho promise ipade by the late Right Hon. W. F. Massey, on October 19, 1922, when he stated definitely that, if prohibition were not carried at the .then approaching poll, legislation would be introduced at the first session of the new Parliament. It had clearly been- Mr. Massey's intention to carry this out, Tho country was expecting action. Why should, it be delayedT Three separate Parliamentary Committees had made, exhaustive examinations of the question, and tlieir recommendations had' been placed before Parliament. Whilo licensing legislation was known 1o be coutoi\tious, it had never boon dealt with along party lines. Every member had a free hand. Surely there should be no hesitation on the part of th.O Government to intvpduce a Bill based upon the recommendations of a special committee of the House ns a whole. The cobuuiltee stages of n Bill provided a means of testing the opinions of members on any point, and the association was prepared to take its chance in that, .direction. They were .prepared to face a Bill at once. They asked for the immediate reform of the licensing system, and were confident .that they had the support of the large majority of the people of New Zealand.

“We know, * said Arelideacon Williams, ‘ < that the official prohibition organisation is opposed to the introduction of reforming legislation. They do not want reform because they think that by keeping conditions as bad as possible they will drive people into voting for prohibition. That ,is the attitude of. official prohibition, but we do not think it is endorsed by any great number of prohibition voters. We cannot bring ourselves to believe that many sincere people wjio vote prohibition in the mistaken idea that it will achieve temperance would deliberately stand in the way of reform of the present system,” In fact-, the recent Franklin by-election had proved that .the prohibition, votols did not blindly follow the official leaders of the prohibition movement. In that case Mr. McLennan, who had refused to answer the prohibitionists’ questions was elected by 6056 votes as against 2245 recorded for Mr. Montgomerie, who had received the official endorsement of tho prohibitionists, in accordance with their declared policy. Ip view of this result, Parliamentarians could surely look with complacency upon the empty threats of the New Zealand Alliance. In connectio;with this phase of tho subject he wished to draw attention to the attempt Doing made by the prohibitionists to secure control of Parliament by dragooning candidates into giving preelection pledges. The association could not stand idly by and see the ground cut from under Its feet. They regrotted being forced to take action. They did not ask for any pledges themselves, but they would be compelled to oppose tfioso candidates who pledged themselves to tho prohibition patty. All that they asked was that there should be elected a frpe Parliament, untramcllcd by pledges to any organisation —a Parliament that would deal with licensing legislation in the interests of the people as a whole. They would respectfully suggest to the leaders of the political parties that

they should interest themselves so far as to see that their ollicial candidates should not pledge themselves to any organisation on the licensing question. By so doing they would avoid the confusion of tho real political issues that must otherwise ensue. The projection of this one question as the major issue to decide the election of members pf Parliament was most vicious, and should be resisted by everyone who held in respect the honorable institution of our British Parliament. The association had determined to take every possible step to save the Parliament for Now Zealand from becoming subservient to the forces of organised intolerance. Archdcason Williams concluded with an earnest appeal that, in the interests of true temperance, Parliament grapple boldly with the problem of licensing legislation, and, regardless of vested interests oil the one hand and fanaticism on the other, put through such practical measures as would stand as an object-lesson to the world.