THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1925, Page 6

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

ALLIANCE SEEKS M.P.’S VIEWS. DEPUTATION TO MR. S. G. SMITH. A deputation of New Zealand Alliance supporters, representing the Taranaki electorate, waited on Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., last night, and sought his opinions on certain questions arising out of reports brought down by the licensing committee of the House of Representatives last year. Mr. Smith said it was difficult to give a definite pledge, but he would give all the questions serious consideration. Speaking on behalf of the deputation, Mr. L. M- Moss said the following conditions, as set out in the licensing committee’s reports, were opposed by the alliance, and in this respect Mr. Smith’s support w r as solicited: (1) Proposed amendments in connection with the redistribution of licenses; (2) extension of the period between the polls from three years to nine; (3) provision for four years’ delay in bringing prohibition into force in the event of it being carried; (4) selling of liquors in restaurants after six o’clock; and (5) the proposed doing away with the people’s right to elect licensing committees, the proposal to appoint licensing boards in place of the committees and that the committees should not meet in Magistrate Courts.

Whatever else was done, continued Mr. Moss, it was important that the voting should be confined to a straight-out issue between prohibition and continuance.

It was some time since he had had the opportunity of looking into the reports dealing w'ith the w’ork of the licensing committee, said Mr. Smith, in reply, and he was placed in rather a difficult position in giving his pinion on the matter. He w’ould have liked to have had some little time to consider the questions concerned before the deputation had come before him. It was difficult to give a pledge in such a case, but he would give the matter serious consideration. He was not going to vote for anything that was against the mass of the people. Regarding the question of allowing drink in restaurants, after hours, -Mr. Smith said he would certainly oppose such a move, but he did not think he would be called upon to vote on any licensing legislation this session.