Liquor Legislation.

Southland Times, Issue 13089, 11 December 1894, Page 3

Liquor Legislation.

Speaking at the 1.0.G.T. Lodge yesterday evening the Rev. E. Walker said that as far as he had had means to ascertain there was unanimity in the temperance party upon the point that a national option vote should be taken on the day of every general election, and that licensing committees should be elected on some other day, the preference being for a specified day in the month of April, say the third Monday. There was also general agreement as far as known that if the local option vote were taken on the day of the general election, National option should be submitted on the same ballot paper as a distinct issue. The convention held on November 9th at Christchurch preferred to take the local option vote on tho day of the election of the committee, and only the national option vote on the day of the general election. That convention was also in favour of both the local and the national vote covering every form of sale of alcoholic beverages. It also favoured omitting from the local option ballot paper the “ reduction” proposal and confirming the issue to the question, licenses or no licenses ; but if the reduction proposal were retained, then that where the votes for “ no license” were insufficient to carry that proposal they should be added to the votes for reduction, and that a fixed percentage of reduction should be made compulsory upon the committee. Also, that the majority of those who voted should determine the issue at both the local and the national option poll. It was desired that in all parts of the colony those questions should be fully discussed and intelligently apprehended, and the fullest expression of opinion given, and he was quite sure that if all parts of the colony were to send up their views on these and any other points of importance to the Alliance secretary, Grey street, Wellington, it would be found that the party was so united in its views that a very strong and effective representation on its behalf could be made to the Legislature. He was sure that if the Government still intended to bring down a Consolidating and Amending Bill the temperance party would be of one mind. That no facility for increasing licenses should be afforded, nor for the removal of licenses to places where none existed ; that conditional licenses should be abolished, and that all supplying of liquors to natives should be made unlawful.