OUR PETITION.

White Ribbon, Volume 48, Issue 6, 18 July 1942, Page 4

OUR PETITION.

The petition asking for stricter enforcement of the liquor laws, which was decided upon at the Nelson Convention in I*Ml and was canvassed for by the unions, was presented to Parliament at the close of the year by Mr. Holland, Leader of the Opposition. The petition was signed by 33,294 electors.

Parliament, in accordance with its usual procedure, sent the petition to be considered by a committee, any evidence received, and a report submitted to Parliament. This committee met last week and Mrs. Sired, Wellington District President, and Mrs. Peryman, editor "White Ribbon,” appeared on behalf of the petitioners. Mr. Holland introduced the ladies and said that the new liquor restrictions had altered the jtosition and given what was asked for. Mrs. Peryman said the new regulations gave by law what electors asked lor, but it was a question now of strict administration and that the petitioners must press tor. The Commissioner of Police, who was present, said that the petitioners could be assured that the police would do all possible to enforce the regulation.; but it must not be forgotten that the police force was heavily taxed with war-time work and had lost many of it> experienced men, absent on warwork. The new regulations were helpful to the police. In regard to drinking after hours, the landlord is required to keep a register of lodgers, the entry to be made in ink on tiie lodger’s arrival. Orders are to be signed for all drinks ordered by lodgers after hours and the number of the lodger’s room must be entered upon the chit. The Commissioner said that any police officer going into a hotel and finding folk drinking after hours, asks to sec their chit tor liquor purchased. Failing this the landlord is summoned for selling liquor after hours and the onus of proof rests not upon the police to prove him guilty but upon the publican to prove himself innocent.

After consideration of the petition the committee reported that as the requests of petitioners had been met by the new regulations it had no report to make to the House.

Your editor has been before committees in the past and it was the first time she had seen a woman (Mrs. Catherine Stewart) upon a Parliamentary committee.