THE NEWTON POLL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 679, 12 March 1903, Page 21

THE NEWTON POLL.

An article on the subject of the decision Of the Magistrate respecting the local option poll at Newtown, in the New Zealand " Mail,” concludes as follows :— J' Already there la an indirect intimation that the prohibition party intends to contest this matter by fresli litigation. It is to be deplored that there should be so much contrition over questions of law. The fault may be said to lie primarily with the Legislature in not having provided for all contingencies, and made its meaning sufficiently clear. There is in the Newtown case an; unanswerable argument for the passage of amending licensing legislation in the coming session of Parliament. It seems absolutely necessary that the Legislature should provide for a second licensing poll, in the event of the first one being declared invalid, or that it should more clearly express its evident intention that in such cases the licenses remain unaltered, or prohibition continues ia prohibition districts, until the date of the next triennial poll. It may be neces>aary, in order to meet the special circumstances of Newtown, and prevent inconvenience and injustice, that the amending legislation should be passed before the expiry of the existing license certificates on June 30 next. In the interest of peace and prosperity, we could wish that this everlasting ‘ tinkering ’ of the licensing laws could be avoided ; but it is to be feared that the process will go on indefinitely, unless the liquor trade is completely revolutionised by the introduction Of company or committee control, on the lines of Lord Grey's publichouses in England. If, instead of striving after an unattainable ideal, temperance reformers would turn their attention to practical measures of improvement, a better order of things would soon be introduced. In the meantime,, apparently, the futile strife must, continue ; and it only remains for Parliament to see to it that neither the public convenience nor the interests of individuals suffers from the imperfect state of the law as tp licensing polls.” /