PROHIBITION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15399, 16 July 1914, Page 5

PROHIBITION.

CHARTERED CLUBS. INTERVIEW THE PREMIER. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 14. The licensing question and proposed legislation dealing with the tlnoc-rifths majority, were tne subject of another deputation to the Premier to-day. The deputation which represented over forty Clubs throughout New Zealand) with a membership of over 20,0U0, asked for the maintenance of the threc. ■ fifths majority. The speakers were Messrs W. Br'idson (Wellington), T, B. William's (Wanganui). and E. Earl (Auckland) ■ It. was pointed out that the deputation represented a large section of that.moderate element in tiie community which was never given any voice in the proposals brought forward by the Prohibition party and the Trade. They entered a strong protest against the manner in which amendments to the law were carried out solely between the brewing interests and the no-liqnor party. The financial arrangements of clubs had been based a good deal on the revenue from the sale of liquor, and great financial disturbance would result if liquor were prohibited. It seemed outrageous that a 'proposal . should be put forward capable of destroying the Clubs as social institutions. Then there was the entertainment of distinguished strangers, and if Clubs were to be swept away they would have a very drab life in the community. The Premier said that what the result of a Bill would be he was unable to say at the moment. There were differences of opinion, -even among members of the Ministry. When the Bil] came tip for the second reading, he would present the views of the deputation to the Hcnso. ASHBURTON' S EXPERIENCE. UNDER LOCAL OPTION. At a meeting at Ashburton on Mon■day evening, at which there was an attendance of betweeoi five hundred and- six hundred people, the chief speaker was Mr H. T). Bedford, of Dunedin, the. following resolutions were carried unanimously:—(l) "That this meeting of over 500 people emphatically, contradicts . the statement carried by resolution at a recent local meeting of less than thirty persons that no-licenso has enforced debasing and degrading systems and practices upon Ashburton, and this meeting further affirms that in Ashburton nolicense has considerably reduced drinking and drunkenness * and all its attendant evils. 1 ' (2) " Whereas tha opponents of prohibition have alwavs urged that the 60 per cent, majority was necessary on "licensing questions for stability, and whereas these same opponents are now by resolution urging that restoration should bo carried by a 40 per cent, vote, b e it resolved that the Prime Minister's attention be called to the renouncing and repudiating of their ' stability J sophistry."