LICENSING QUESTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13654, 24 July 1908, Page 2

LICENSING QUESTION.

DISCUSSION BY THE TRADES CONFEBENCE. Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, July 21. The Trades Council Conference had the licensed victuallers and " the trade generally under review at Wellington to-day, when Mr M. J. B«ardon moved:—"That, in view, of the hostile attitude 'of the Licensed VictuaUers' Association towards organised, labour, this conference be requested to <rive an expression of opinion on the liquor traffic." Mr'Beardon described the trade" as the best organised, _ strongest and most unscrupulous organisation in the dominion. He read from the annual report of the Association, which showed, according to his interpretation, that \V trade viewed with alarm- the action tak«i by the Trades Council and Cooks' and Waiters' Union to what Mr Reardon held were the > ■ reasonable demands of workers. Mr Carter (Wellington) Gaid J- ~- sidered that the workers would.. ' that soon, have to take a decid<\l stand on this question. They would have •*> discuss whether the use of :■ ...ol retarded or assisted in th p .uiuivity of labour. They should s--• v.'.ere they were in regard to this tr. cle. Mr Carey (Wellingto- said the conference need, have no f r a' out the attitude of the Cooks' r 1 Waiters' Union, for 90 per cent, of them would "strike out the top line." 'IU-y desired to help the girls who w working very long hours. They m- =t fyhfc the biggest and strongest monopoly ji the dominion. (Hear, 1 hear).

Mr Light foot (Wellington) . concurred. The question »i ; -.s certainly a workers' question to and ib was proper that they should icltr it. Mr Long .Auckland) agreed with previous epeu regretting that the executive had sliu.-lc out a remit on this very subject from ::ie order paper. Mr Jack>>>n (Greymouth)'held that the question siiou'.if be considered as a remit. Parliau, ould certainly be made to know wli.il the conference thought of the severe un, ■■ ons under which employees were woiu.. g in hotels.

Mr .ge (Christchurch) held that the matt could be dealt with from an indns,. point of view, but not' on the questicii os to the evils of liquor. He was iseil at the attitude of members who coiii-ssed. themselves as opposed to the Ikmn r trade and alcohol generally, but werr themselves nob abstainers. He was abstainer, but they should not discu the whole matter in globo. They couh" vote as they liked outside when the rijrii! time came. Mr (!. A. Park (Otago) challenged anyone to nliow hiiri where any Labour party in tl 3 world put this on their platform. Mr Is. M'Laren (Wellington) held that the trade was a proper subject for discussion. It had a far-reaching effect so far ;im the worker was concerned. The Australian Labour parties were solid in the opinion thab the trade should be nationalised. Labour should certainly recog; " e this gigantic monopoly and its avo-e'' hostility to tlie workers who were held iu subjection. y: Alsweiler (Otago) agreed that the workers were at one in condemning the trad-=.

3i" P. Hickey (Blackball) supported the motion.

Mr Tuffen (Otago) and Mr'S.-C. Brown (Ot- condemned: the liquor trade as most inimical to the best interests of the worknun.

T? president (Mr J. Thorn) said the tra/.- had thrown down a challenge to labcr. iitid if they did not take it up then they cowards. It was certainly an industrial matter, for if a trade which thre v down the workers by thousands was -nf an industrial matter, what was? Mi' O'Byme (Inyercargill), while believing H ■■■ local option did not quite meet the question, said he would like to see the wimle trade abolished. Mr Beardon said that, in common justice tc both Wellington and Auckland, the conference should give an opportunity of dealing witli this matter before adjourning.

lb was decided, by twenty-four votes to four, to add Mr Beardon's motion to the executive's report.