THE N.S.W. LIQUOR BILL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11709, 8 November 1905, Page 7

THE N.S.W. LIQUOR BILL.

Interview with a Sydney Clergy\man.

(Special to Hekaxd.— By Telegraph.) AUCKLAND, November 8. The Rev. J. E. Carruthers, one of the Venerable members of £he_ Methodist Church o£«the CommownealtfiT'and brother of the present Premier of New South Wales, arrivedin Auckland on Sunday, and is the guest of Mr A. C. Caughey. Tho rev. gentleman will be best remembered by Methodists 'as 1 the inaugurator of the superannuation fund reform consummated at the last intercolonial conference, by which so many widows and others have benefited. In conversation with your correspondent, Mr Carruthers gave particulars 'of the new Liquor Bill introduced inta the New South Wales- Parliament this session. "The Government," said Mr Carruthers,. "has recently introduced a' new Licensing Bill, the first for twenty' years. Thelast was Sir Henry Parkes', and. this is rather on the lines of the New Zealand Act.' It provides for the same three issues — continuance, reduction, and no-li-cense, but differs from your Act in that it. provides for notice to be given to free hotels to"be ; closed' of as much as eight years if reduction is carried. Then the houses which . arc owned by the licensee or arc held on bona fide lease will be entitled to I|he maximum notice, which it is expected would only apply^ to about -four -or five hundred out of four or five thousand hotels in the' cities. A house with, one conviction against it will have three years' notice, with two convictions the house may be closed in 12 months, and three convictions or morW summarily." „ "Is. {here any provision for compensation?" •*

• "None: The Government hold to the theory that licensee are issued from -year to yea* and no vested interest is created thereby, the licensees being no more entitled to compensation than the owners of horse trams are entitled to it for being superseded by the more civilised and up-to-date method of electrical traction." "Have you a triennial election?" "Yes, as far as possible. At the same time as the general State elections.'" "Then' how do you t avoid the risk that the will of the peopTd at one election may be abrogated by the next before the requisite notices have come into effect?"

"The Temperance party are not satisfied with the extension of time, and are usinsr their influence to get it cut down, but it has been pointed out that in its present form there is more likelihood it will be made law than if any alteration were made. The Government has put 'this Bill forward as a progressive measure, as a step towards what may later be desired in the direction of further legislation, and as being .as much as the - sentiment of, the ■people; of the State is equal to at present. The Bill has passed the Lowe* House, but has, yet to go through the Upper fiouse. where -the .' brewers are strongly represented, therefore, is being awaited witli great interest, and some anxiety by Temperance workers." "D».tlwy make the liquor' question a burning -one at the elections?" "So. far it has not been made a test question.' At the last election it^as battle for; "and against the tendency^ towards socialism-, and although the Temperance people^ had their platform, still it was only a side issue. At the next elections it is Bur«>to be more active, particularly if the Upper Houee refuses to ratify the new Bill' as ipassed by a good majority of the Lower House."

Entries for the races at the Corporation Baths, in connection with the opening of the'-soason,- dlose to-night. The races will be held on Saturday, and the public are cordially invited to attend.