THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1913. LICENSING LEGISLATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 22 September 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1913. LICENSING LEGISLATION.

A rumour is current in Wellington that the Government proposes introducing legislation during the present session to enable the House to declare itself on the majority issue in i-egard to the licensing question. We are aware that there is a very strong feeling in certain quarters that the majority required to carry national and local prohibition should be reduced. In view of recent events, however, and of the fact that Parliament, as at present constituted, has already declared itself against a reduction in the majority, we do not give much credence to the report that is now in circulation. The nttitude of the Nolicense party in seeking td secure pledges from the electors to vote only for majority-reducing candidates at the next election, is evidence that this party does not anticipate that legislation in the direction it desires w ill be passed by the present Parliament. There are doubtless a few weak-kneed politicians who fear the threat of the No-lioouse party, and who would be glad if the issue were settled before the next appeal is made to the electors. But these are hardly worth consideration. The Government'must stand or fall on its general policy, and it would place a poor estimation upon the intelligence of the electors if it imagined that they were going to subordinate all other considerations to that of license or nolicense. The very first object of the referendum was to remove the issue from party political. If those comcerned in the social problem insist upon obtruding it at the polls, they will havo only themselves to blame if the direct issue is taken out of their hands and again ve-sted in Parliament. For ourselves, we are of Opinion that the time is coming when the licensing question will have to be approached on quite different linos from those of the past. The attention of Parliament and the people will be devoted more to regulation than to( abolition. The evils that have grown up around the drink traffic are traceable in a large degree to the power of a monopoly. W© rerrbore to think that had it not been for the gross

abuse of the power, Maaterton and other electorates would not have been "dry" to-day. Be that as it may, there is a strong feeling in the community that the drink traffic should be taken out of the hands of individuals and vested in the State, or in municipalities'. With due deference to the opinions of those who maintain that the whole thing is an abomination, and that it should gq, lock, stock and barrel, we are convinced that 3 .proper system of control is immediately required for the protection of the public. So long as the brewing monopoly can wring enormous profits out of th# people, so long will the evils surrounding the trade continue. There are thousands, we might ;--ay tens of thousands of people who vcxto for Nolicenso solely because they object, "to the manner hi which the trade is conducted. These people, and those who vote for liquor because they like it whether good or bad, are surely entitled to the right of saying whether the trade shall, or shall not be improved. The No-license party, and the Democratic party, .are continually advising those a,t the head of the Government that they should "trust the people." Very well. Let us have the voice of the people on the question of whether the liquor trade should be taken over by the State. What objection can there be to this issue being submitted to the eleotors ? The brewing monopoly may not like it. The No-license party may be fearful of the result. But it is the duty of the Legislature to give the what iJbey want,. and not what sectional interests desire. Therefore, we maintain that there ia & moral obligation on Parliament to afford the electors an opportunity of expressing themselves on the question of State* or municipal control.