The wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1903. THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11059, 22 September 1903, Page 4

The wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1903. THE LICENSING QUESTION.

The all-absorbing topic pi political conversation among persons really interested in the liquor question, to-day, is whether the Government intend to bring down a Licensing Amendment Bill this session. Some people believe they will, and at least as many that they have no intention of doing anything of the sort. For ourselves, we do not feel at all satisfied with the position. v The "voice, of the people," that much-abused phrase, really should have some practical significance in a democratic community such as ours is supposed to 1 be. Sometimes it has, sometimes it has not, and our liquor legislation is one illustration of where it fyas not. No good purpose would be served "by 'referring to the ancient history of liquor legislation in New Zealand, or of the no-license movement. What is done t cannot be undone, but the' will of the people must no longer, be disregarded, and the majority rightly ask that a term .shall be put during the present session of Parliament to what is an intolerable state of the law. It is, a significant fact that the session is drawing, to a close with nothing whatever achieved. That in itself may' mean nothing, but when considered in conjunction with .otlier signß of the political times, it. is sufficiently significant to afouse a spirit of uneasiness in the country. And that there issuch uneasiness, to call it mildly, is about the only thing we can say for certain on this all-important matter. In vu, pre-, sessional speech, Mr ' Seddon plainly. ', showed that ■ he ' was not looking forward ,with any degree of enthusiasm or even, complacency to the time wh,en he would have to show his hand on this question of liquor, and there have been other indications lately,, insignificant 'in themselves', perhaps, but in the, -aggregate- full of meaning, which have naturally given rise to a desire in the community to bring matters to a head without delay. •■ There is a fear abroad' that the Premier has no intention, if he can possibly avoid it, of introducing legislation this 3«»ar ib remove the legal and constitutional anomalies revealed by the Newtown and Bruce scan- ♦ dals. Thus, we had the verdant Mr Bellford openly, in' the House, attributing to Mr, Seddon a wish to shelve the' matter until he sees which way the Parliamentary wind is blowing — he chargjed the Premier with being an opportunist. "Dignity and Impudence." ft is very unlike practical Seddonism to try the impossible task of running with the" ! hare and hunting' with the I 'hounds, but it must be admitted .that there ' are superficial grounds for the soft impeachment in the Premier's • unwillingness to declare definitely what are his intentions regarding liquor legislation! We are quite persuaded that the Premier would like to' satisfy both parties if he could; but as that is a human impossibility, he must enforce the verdict of the people pronounced at the polls. 'Mr Seddon' is reported to be-^-has even said he is — in favour of the referendum with restrictions. Well, we have already the referendum and the restrictions too. For instance, the people of the colony have been appealed to to decide whether or not liquor shall , be sold in their midst. W£th their eyes open theyhave, by a large majority, said that in Bruce and Newtown electorates intoxicating liquor shall not be sold— that is the referendum; yet no effect has been given to their will — palpable restriction. We- do not ask for, nor should we like to see, any unreasonable or , i anaticaj, legislation passed, but the reproach on spur democracy, revealed by the present anomalous state of the law, must be removed. . The* matter has already been shirked too long. If a local option poll is to be • upset, ' after a two-thirds majority haye decided it^ pr£ vision must be made for the taking of a further vote. But it should not be made easy to upset a poll. Mr Seddon, popular as he is, cannot afford to disregard 'the people's wishes on, these points. .The women of the .colony hold the balance of political power in the country, and if their franchise is not operative in a local option poll, they may be expected to, express their feelings at the next general election to some purpose. For that matter none of the voters of' the reform party will ,put up J for long with, the law as it stands. We believe Mr , Seddon is far' too shrewd a politician to wish to burk the issue, even if he 'could, but the country is entitled, after what 'has been imputed to the Government in Parliament, to know what exactly, if anything, it is proposed to do this session. Of course, there are many defects both in the construction and operation of the liquor jaws of the colony, but that we have briefly referred to is the' burning question of the moment. It and other matters must "be, put right at all cost, and the course .of the Government, as a. people-inspired administration, is quite plain and inalienable.