CARRIAGE OF LIQUOR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16505, 5 August 1919, Page 4

CARRIAGE OF LIQUOR.

MINISTER EXPLAINS POSITION. Per Press Association. WANGANUI, August 4. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce has received a reply from the Minister of Railways as an outcome of the question whether liquor was regarded in tiie essential class during the restricted railway service. “In my opinion it cannot bo treated in the same way as other goods, essential or non-essential,” states the Hon. IV. H. Hcrries. “The carriage, of liquor is so intimately connected with the licensing question and licensing law that it must bo placed on a different footing to other goods. I cannot, on behalf of tho Railway Department, tako upon myself tho responsibility of an action enforcing prohibition in country districts with a further possibility of licensees forfeiting their licenses for not supplying that which they obtained their licenses for at the last licensing poll. 'Hie people decided that licenses aro to bo continued, and it is not for the Railway Department to do anything that might possibly militate against that determination. Meanwhile instructions have been issued to limit as far as possible the consignment of liquor to only absolutely necessary cases.” The. Minister added that Cabinet had not come to any decision in the mat-