THE LICENSING BILL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12479, 16 September 1904, Page 3

THE LICENSING BILL.

LOCAL PROTESTS. MINISTERIAL REPLIES. At the annual meeting of the Timani Council of the Churches on Wednesday evening, it was resolved' Ho' send a teledram to the Premier and the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, protesting against clauses 9. 10. 24 and 25 of the Licensing Bill, the telegram to Mr Hall-Jones adding that the Council regretted his attitude regarding the reduction clause, and requesting him to support the New Zealand Alliance manifesto. Clauses 9 and 10 represent the famous " clause 9 " of last year's Bill, and clauses 24 and 25 provide for a referendum on the issue of State control.

. The telegrams were despatched yesterday morning bv the secretary to the Council, Rev. A. E' Hunt, and during the day the following replies were received : From the Hon. the Premier—"Your telegram protesting acainst clauses 9, 10, 24 and 25 Licensing Bill received. I am surprited that the Council, whose members ever claim to be democratic, should protest

against the people having a voice as to whether liquor should come into a district or whether it should be placed under State control.—R. J. .SEDDON." From the Hon. W. Hall-Jones—"ln reIjtfc. to your telegram of to-day. you no doubt are aware of the difference of opinion among leading temperance men in reference to the reduction issue. Personally.

I am satisfied your position would bo stronger, and the vote larger, with simply the two issues. This will eventually be T>roved. The Bill now Before the House contains many improvements of the present law, and with certain modifications, T hope/ to see it pass this session.—Wm. HALL-JONES."

A joint meeting of the committees of the Timarn No-License League and Women's Christian Temperance Union was held in the lodge-rnom of the Oddfellows' Hall, Barnard street, last night, to consider the Licensing Acts Amendment Bill. There was a fair attendance of members

of the committees, and the Rev. T.. Stanton presided. The proceedings were conducted in private, but the following results in resolutions have been communicated by the secretary, Mr Holmes: -- "That we express our gratification tit the defeat of the attempt to take away from the people the right to ieduce the number of licenses in their district, and our great regret that our member voted against the amendment which prevented that right being taken away." "That we enter our emphatic protest against clauses 9, 10, 24 and 25 of the Bill, and urge our member to resist in every possible way the passing of these most objectionable clauses." " That this meeting protests against the attempt being made in the Licensing Bill at present before the House to force upon the people, issues unasked for, which can only tend to confuse the electors at the ballot box." "That the manifesto issued by the New Zealand Alliance be approved by the N-o-License League." " That Mr McXab be written to and congratulated upon having carried his amendment to the Licensing Bill." - Some of the members expressed great disappointment at the attitude fciken up by the member for Timaru in regard to the Bill, seeing that he gained ,his seat as a supporter of the Temperance party, whilst he has since lost election voted against-the party at every opportunity.