LICENSING REFORM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16375, 24 June 1927, Page 11

LICENSING REFORM

THE TRADE'S VIEWPOINT (Pei' Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The views of the licensed trade upon the question of licensing legislation, as opposed to the requests made to the h'overnment last week by the New Zealand Alliance, were placed before Mr (nates today by a large deputation. The president of the National Council of the Licensed Trade, Mr. A. S. Bankart, said the Alliance stood for total abolition of liquor. It was no pari of its purpose to advocate any reforms in conduct of the trade. The demand For the retention of liquor had been consistently confirmed at the polls. Ho urged that an extension of time in taking polls would prove an important factor in giving better results in the conduct of the trade. To improve the buildings and facilities to cope with the needs of the travelling public considerable expenditure was necessary, but the capital would not he forthcoming unless the tenure of hotels was made more secure. lie objected to the demand for abolition of the second issue on the ballot paper, which was the direct outcome of a compact or compromise made between the contending parties. If there was any alteration the legislature was personally hound to revert to the three-fifths majority. Mr. t'oatcs said lie could only answer the deputation as he did that from the Alliance : that a Bill was heme drafted ; that it would contain certain proposals; and that d was hoped members of Parliament would have an opportunity to discuss and express their views. "I will leave it at that," he said.