LICENSING ISSUE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 193, 15 August 1931, Page 17

LICENSING ISSUE.

Postponement of Poll Proposed. FINANCIAL SAVING. A proposal to postpone the licensing poll for another three years has met with general approval in Christchurch. The opinion is that the suggestion, if carried into practice, can only result in a beneficial saving, and will not in the least serve as a detriment to the “ wet ” and “ dry ” causes. The resolution which embodies this plan w’as passed at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the New Zealand Alliance, when it met at Wellington yesterday. It reads as follows : “ That this meeting resolves that if the Government, considering it in the best interests of the country, proposes to postpone the licensing poll no opposition be offered to the proposal as regards the poll due this year, provided that the principle of a triennial poll is left untouched.” “ I am very glad to hear of it,” said the Ven Archdeacon F. N. Taylor, when the resolution was referred to him this morning. “ The poll is just as well left alone for a time, considering the financial position of the country. I think it is a very generous move on the part of the Alliance. The postpone- ! ment cannot possibly have an adverse effect on the cause of prohibition.” “No Advantage.” The Rev D. Cardner Miller also approved of the plan. He said that he had some knowledge of the suggestion for some time, and whole-heartedly supported it. Undue expenditure, even in political circles, was to be guarded against these days, and provided both parties were willing to forgo the poll, there was no reason why it should be held. He thought there would be no advantage in pushing the poll this year. The president of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers’ Association (Mr W. Nash) said that the suggestion to postpone the poll had originally come from the organiser of the Wellington branch at the time of the earthquake. By the postponement, it was hoped to devote the money saved to the relief of the refugees. The matter will not, however, be officially debated until the annual meeting of the National Council of the United Licensed Victuallers, which will commence in Wellington on September 1. Mr Nash said that he had every hope that the council would approve of the Alliance’s suggestion. “ I do not wish to make any statement until I have obtained some authoritative statement on the matter,” said Mr W. H. Rose, J.P., who has been prominent in the prohibition cause. “ The position is not exactly as we expected it to be, and until I get definite details, I do not wish to make any comment.” _