THE LIQUOR TRADE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 9

THE LIQUOR TRADE.

J (Special to '"Star.") i WELLINGTON, July 21. I The Wellington early closing advoi rates have flooded the country and Parliament with their demands. Those representing lienor and allied tiades have up to the present been silent. The Litter's skle of tho question was voiced tor the first time this morning, by a deputation to tbo Prime Minister representing owners, brewers, wine and spirit merchant'?, licensed victuallers and members of the allied trades of Jie whole Dominion. The first speaker was Mr A. E. Ivcinot, president of the Nc-w Zealand National Council. He reminded the Prime Minister that matters pertaining i to the continuance of the. licensed trade I in the Dominion were, towards the close j of 191-1. at a most critical period of | tho war, referred to the people, and | quoted the decision that licenses | should continue until nest election, in | accordance with tho conditions iixed by i the Licensing Act. '1 lie trade was, he i contended, justified in assuming that j i:lio contract which the people had en- ! tered into would not bo varied in any way until reviewed at. another election. It was found, however, that the opponents of the licensed trade had systematically agitated ior a. further restriction of tho rights of the licensed trade, and had endeavoured to make war conditions an excuse for a breach of faith. As a result the legislature last year imposed anti-shouting. These restrictions had affected tho licensed trade very materially, their business having been reduced by no loss than ->') per cent throughout, tho Dominion. Despite this sacrifice, the opponents of tho trade woro now seeking to imposo an additional sacrifice in the direction of curtailing tho hours during whicn alcoholic liquors may be sold. The trade contended that to such restrictions would he manifestly unjust and inequitable, as the trade would be asked or called upon to bear losses or make sacrifices out of all proportion to those required from other businesses. Mr Kernet added that it had been suggested that the trade was not prepared to meet the exigencies of the present position in a fair and publicspirited manner. Such was not the case. The trade had been willing to meet the posit'on lairlv ana liberally, but there were 'imitations beyond which its members could not go in fairness to -themselves, to their employees and to their financial obligations'. A dual sacrifice such as was now sought to bo imposed by the proposed burden would mca.n ruination to a large majority of those engaged in tho. Tin's br-ing the ease ; and with all duo regard to their duties as citizens, they had empowered him, as president of the National Council, to rnnke the following susgcsHons as a solution of th" d'ffieulty problems now confronting the National Government: ("!') That the present anti-shouting regulations be repealed. (1) That, in lieu of such anti-shouting regulations, they will voluntarily aecepf, and agro-"- to r.. curtailment of the hours dnr : ng tho present war, and for a period not exceeding sit months thereafter, to the hour'-- between eight. o'cWlc a.m. and nine o'clock p.m. ('?.') a.s regards sur-h curtailment, thev wiH bear sacrifice ard loss thereby entailed upon their own shoulders, without requiring or peeking any com-»k->ination in respect thereof, although such eurta'lment means variation of the con+rnct entered into with them by the people at the poll. If. in the opinion of the Government a further curtailment of tho hours beyond those suggested be requisite, then the trade respectfully submits that it. should be compensated out of the Consolidated Fund* for any loss that it may sustain bv reason thereof. It is only right, that, as the peonle eousid-.'r thev will b°nefit. by such further cui tailment. the State, as representative of the people, should compensate those who suffer locs. viz.. the licensxl trade. We trust the Government wi'l give out pronosals fair and iust consideration, and we believe Parliament wil' not be induced to do gross injustice because of an a citation brought about bv those who have no practical knowledge of the business o.i they seek to injure, and who have no conception of the sacrifices and losses already sustained bv tho®e vitally interested in the whole licensed trade. Mr Aldridge, president of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, protested ; against tho continual agitation by the Prohibition Party as being merely political, and resulting in no benefit to the community ;ig a whole. He pointed out last vear's restrictions upon the trade, which included anti-slu.Mting. an increased excise duty on beer and Customs duty on spirits, tho tost of all of which the trade had borne without passing it on to the public. These, together with war-time economy, had resulted in decreased trade to th 0 licensed victualler of from 2"j to 30 per cent, a reduction of revenue of £300,000. Following the people's mandate in 1914, tho licensed victuallers had spent largo sums, in some cases at the dictation of the licensing committees, in hotel improvements, and for the increase of conveniences to the travelling public. This recruited in immense loss and in many cases ruin would be caused bv further restriction.';. They contended that earlier closing was directed specifically against the less viell-to-do, and would have the (fleet of driving a now legitimate business into illegitimate channels. They were also con vinced that earlier closing would be a. menace to tho soldiers' welfare, as they may be driven to seek entertainment m houses of ill-repute and sly-grog shops. Our soldiers were civilians under military rules, and 'unless it was .assumed that thev were disfranchised they were entitled to all civilian privileges and rights when not on .dut\. The tiado held that "there was no necessity for earlier closing in New Zealand from the win-tbe-war viewpoint,, as there wero no munition areas, and it was only in munition areas in Britain that tho hotels were closed at 9 p.m., while in other parts the hours were unaltered. Again, under existing conditions the people of New Zealand only consumed about onethird tho amount consumed per bead of the population in Britain, and trio British Government had now decided I to increase the beer output to meet the demands of the British workmen. Tho speaker contested tho argument I that earlier closing was necessary for | increased national officiency and ecoi nomy, pointing out that since the war broko out £10.000,000 had been added to tlio Post Office Savings Bank deposits, whilo the banks showed that tho credits of the people stood at £?1.000,000. Since the war there had also been fewer arrests for over-indul-gence, the decreaao last year alone being nearly 3000. On behalf of 1500 licenseholders he contended that if greater restrictions were imposed than those suggested it would be necessary for the State to provide adequate coinpans ?*■"■*■ AJ) adni°^.nii>—t of

mm—*— o ** IDEPIJT/lIM TO THE PREMIER, TRIE PROPOSES TO MAKE CONCESSIONS. 8 AI TO 9 PI

and taxes, for a violation of contfacfl and consequent loss of business, otherwise it would, in the words of the At-torney-General, be a gross injustice to take what is really property without adequate payment. Mr G. J. Gibbons, Epeaking for the country hotelkeepers, urged that as tho country districts of New Zealand were neither munition areas nor anywhere near the training camps, there was no justification for applying even nine o'clock closing to the country hotels. He pointed out that the De* fence Minister had repeatedly repudiated the charges of over-indulgenco made against our soldiers, while from, all quarters New Zealanders had won. golden opinions for their soldierly qualities and good behaviour. The deputation therefore resented the usa of the prohibition party's autipp.thy to the trade to asperse the characters of the men fighting for the liberty of Europe. Mr Gibbons contended that if the country hotel profits were further curtailed it would practically mean tha closing of the houses against the travelling public, as they wonld bo faced, with bankruptcy, as ordinary country hotels were largely necessary for tho use of travelling stockmen, the fanning and commercial public, who can make demands for man and beast any time of the day or night. Instead of increasing material efficiency tho ifstrietions on country hotels would impair it. Ho argued that earner closing was not warranted in either the moral or military sense, while material efficiency had never reached a higher standard than since the war started, all under the present licensing system. He contended that the present agitation was not British tor consistent with fair play. The Government should remember that 274,000 electors had voted continuance in 1914, and it was: the clamorous minority and' not the substantial majority that was now anxious to deflect the will of tho people and embarrass the National Government. MR MASSEY'S REPLY. MEMBERS TO HAVE FREE HAND. Mr Massey, replying, said it was only right to state tho point of view of the licensing trade, and the various speakers had put forward their views clearly and moderately, showing there wero two sides to tho question. They could take it from him that- the two sides would be considered by tho Cabinet and Parliament. " I will take the opportunity of saying this," continued Mr Massey. "that X believe Parliament will, at a not far distant future, havo to reconsider the whole licensing question, so as to get rid of this continual unrest and agitation that comes uj from year to year. (Applause.) Ne« Zealand is rot. the only country \rher< there is unrest. I notice exactly th& same thing, not perhaps to the s-me extent-, iu Australia, Canada, tho United States and other places. Quit© leei.ntly a British Parliamentary Committee has been going into the wholo quera ion and has reported that in its opinion State control or ownership would be a solution of the difficulty. I don't know what the British Parliament will do. but the feeling in; favour ol Stato ownership was undoubtedly growing. Personally, I may say I am not exactly in love with State ownership, but if it is going to be a remedy for the difficulty, we shall hav© to consider it. lam expressing my own opin« ion: it has not been considered by tha Cabinet. What I do say is that tha agitation which is going on is not in the. best interests of tho body "politic, and public men will have to find a remedy somehow or other." The Premier explained that petitions had goiio direct to the Government-thia year, and as a very great deal of evidence had been previously taken, tho .subject was quite fresh in members' minds. The speeches of members of tho deputation would be passed on to members of thp Cabinet, which wrfiild consider the whole question, and ha could only tell the deputation, as he had told others, that the proposals would have a straight run. It was not a party question and never had been in his experience, and tho Governments proposed to give, its supporters a free band. He believed Parliament would do something which would satify the great bulk of tho public, and that things would go on smoothly till tho next general election and licensing poll, when the people would have another opportunity of expressing their opinion. (Applause.) Mr Kernot thanked the Prime Minister and the Hon A. L. Herdman for attending the deputation.

THE NO-LICENSE VIEW. MUST HAVE SIX O'CLOCK. As far as a few brief conversations li. Christchurch disclose, the No-Licenso workers in the city will not agree to the proposal to close the hotels at 9 p.m. They say that they must have cix o'clock closing. "We would not dream of accepting 9 o'clock," one of them said this afternoon, " and will continue to fight until we get six o'clock."