THE NEEDS OF THE TEMPERANCE PARTY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 306, 25 June 1898, Page 2

THE NEEDS OF THE TEMPERANCE PARTY.

(P3Y TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, Last Night. A deputation from the New Zealand Alliance and other temperance bodies waited on Mr Seddon to-day. Mr Atkinson said the particular object of the deputation was to urge on the Government the filling up of certain gaps in the laws as they at present stand, and which were really altogether apart from questions of licensing or prohibition. The Alliance wanted an alteration of the law iu regard to the removal of licenses, and also suggested that the appointment of scrutineers at licensing elections should be allowed, and urged that the licensing law of New Zealand should be made similar to the English law by making customers liable for a breach of the law in being on licensed premises after houra as well as the publicau. Mr Seddon expressed his own opinion on the questions submitted to him, but could not give defiuite replies, as he would have to lay them before Ministers. The uncertainty as to the treatment the measure would receive, and the length of time its discussiou would occupy, were reasons for hesitancy on the part of the Government in deciding as to bringing in a Licensing Bill or not this session. He quite agreed that removals of licenses were a fraud upon the law, and the Act should be made clear on the subject, if both parties had the right to appoint scrutineers, none could complain, He thought it would be as well if the law was altered so as to, make customers, as well as hotelkcepcrs, responsible for a breach of the law as regards trading after hours. He also thought that bottle licenses ought to be done a\vay with. Mr Atkinson said the temperance party proposed on their own behalf to introduce their model Local and Colonial Option Bill.