The Thames Star. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1911. EDITORIAL.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 10129, 11 December 1911, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1911. EDITORIAL.

LICENSING REFORM. „..^.___^. IfNI 'BRITAIN AND' NEW ZEALAND. The progress that New Zealand has' made towards the settlement of its liquor problem is illustrated by a' discussion. that is proceeding in Britain at the present time. The Liverpool Licensing Committee has pi-t forward a scheme of reform that Iris been hailed all over the country as' "drastic" and "revolutionary." "'T'lie ! reforms suggested 'by the committee," said the Bey. ¥. B. Mfeyer a fow weeks ago, "are the most-• drastic handling! of the liquor traffic on record. If this example is followed widely throughout the countiy it will effect a mightier reform than any' statesman has promulgated and date the beginning of a^ new or«. " But the ' reforms pvoposed really appear mi'dness: itself compared with the New Zealand licensing law. The lAverpool hotels are to be required to open at 8.30 a.m. instead of 6 a.m., and th?,y must [not ;set;ve wpiuen or pei'sons v,nder the age of sixteen years before midday. The closing hour is to it 10 p.m. instead of 11 p.m y and the hours of business on Sunday must he limited to three. Gubs will be pl<ic3d on the same footing as ordinary Lc-' enscd premises with regard to the of liquor. Tfc is interesting to read that when, these proposals wore pl.s'j- ' cd 'bofore'the lnagis'tvates, >Sir Cli-u----les Petiie said that they dealt t.io freely with the liberty of the subject. "I have often t heard people say in London," he stated, "that Liverpool is only a 'one-h<n-se' place and not wor|Ji going' to. "By passing resolutions Qf'-ifns kind we will bo encouraging shebeening and private drinking." Another critic said that he could -. n->f imder>taud the reason- for pro . hibitin^ tlie ?ale of liquor to women and young people during the morii-' ( inj^. but he presumed there •was some special local ground for the change ' The Liverpool publicans seem to' f hare "accepted the scheme quite $ philosophically. g