NO LICENSE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13657, 28 July 1908, Page 3

NO LICENSE.

THE PREMIER INTERVIEWED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 27. Delegates from the recent annual meeting of the New Zealand Alliance waited on the Premier to-day, and put before him the resolutions that had been passed. One of the points raised was the passing o legislation to secure the licensing poll being carried by a bare majority. The Premier stated that no licensing legislation would be introduced this session for the very obvious reason that he was certain he could not get it through. As to the bare majority, he thought there should be 'unanimity on he subject, because lie had already had strong representations on the subject from those who were on the side of temperance reform, and who strongly opposed the proposal; They knew also that thera was strong oposition to it in Parliament, and in asking liim to solve the problem he thought they were asking him something which he conM not promise would be done.

Referring to beer depots the Premier said tliat something should certainly bs done to prevent what? had happened in tho case of Invercargill. He was prepared io consider whati would be the best course to adopt, but could not say i-hat the necessary steps could be taken this session. In regard to bottle licensees his opinion was that Parliament intended when no license was carried, that bottlo licenses should cease to exist. Anything the Government, could do to remedy the present condition of things would be done. Temperance teaching in schools ought to be carried out. That was all he could say about it. The provision regarding a poll of half the voters he would like to see abolished. It was originally embodied in the Act to ensure a sufficiently strong vote on what was admittedly a very big and important question. In regard to sly-grog selling tlia law ought to be made effective. Where no-license was carried ,the intention was that liquor should not be sold, and the intentions of the people should bo carried out absolutely. Apparently fines were ineffective, and he was quit." prepared t° ask his colleagues if they would go any further. As to tourists' licenses he fully sympathised with the sentimental side of their request, that the Government should not have licensed institutions either in the shape of steamer or tourist licenses, but if they did not carry no-license in thosu districts they would have to do what he was strongly opposed to doing—on the Wakatipu steamers,' for instance—allow people to t Jifjuor on board and consume it there.. DRINK IN INVERCARGILL. ; THE MAYOR'S REPLY. i INVERCARGILL, July 27. In regard to the jstatementl by Mr Harnett, manager of tie British football team, about the drunken men he saw in InvercaTgill, the Mayor states that while lie cannot dispute the evidence of Mr Harnett's eyes, he (the Mayor) saw no drunks that day. He points out that because of a football match and the unveiling of the troopers' memorial t»ere was an exceptional crowd >n town, and he 6t»tes also that at the football dinner Mr Harnett expressed himself opposed to no license. The Mayor concludes: "His opinions' on this question so strongly expressed to me may have influenced his otherwise good judgment."