ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR SALE CONTROL ACT, 1895.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 292, 27 February 1896, Page 13

ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR SALE CONTROL ACT, 1895.

The recent election in Christchurch has proved to demonstration that the Act passed by parliament last session has satisfied neither party, and the Premier, to all appearance, recognised this when addressing the electors in Christchurch during the recent struggle. He is reported to have said that his Government { ‘ was not prepared to support the extreme minority of prohibitionists on the one hand, or those who were engaged in the liquor traffic and who violated the law on the other hand.” The result was that he fell between two stools. It is currently reported that the brewers, spirit merchants, and the hotelkeepers in Christchurch made their trade their politics, and for this reason they neither cared for the Government nor the Opposition, but recognising that the instincts of selfpreservation is the first law of Nature, they said, through the ballot-box, “Lewis is our man,” and by their organised and united efforts they obtained a triumphant win for the young New Zealander, and we heartily congratulate Mr Lewis on his brilliant victory, which must be accepted by all right-thinking colonists as a triumphant success over the “ T. E. Tailor creed,” which means fanaticism, intoleration, and absolute interference with the liberty of the subject. It is scarcely necessary to say that the late election in Christchurch is an object lesson to the Premier and his colleagues as “ those who run may read ” from the humiliating result that the Government can expect no support from the prohibition party, and in consequence of the penalties as imposed by the Act of last session on those engaged in the liquor trade, no aid or assistance can be expected from those persons who, under the provisions of the law, dispense alcoholic liquors, and by so doing contribute to the consolidated revenue of the colony. It has been said that the taking of the poll under the Act indicated for the granting of licenses on the day of the General Election for members of the House of Representatives will be prejudicial to the trade. This, however, is a debateable question, and there is a great diversity of opinion on the subject between the trade in the North and South Island. The trade in the South, in our opinion rightly, entertains the opinion that the people who believe in moderation and true temperance will roll up at the poll for members of the House of Representatives and record their votes on both issues who would be indifferent and remain at home on the day of an election on the liquor question pure and simple. We do not think it is necessary to further review the Liquor Act of 1895, but if any of our readers desire to obtain information relative thereto, either on a question of law or on the probable ad-

ministration of the measure, we shall be pleased to give the desired information, without, however, accepting any responsibility for the opinions to which we give expression.