Legal and Parliamentary Dept.

White Ribbon, Volume 29, Issue 5, 1 October 1957, Page 6

Legal and Parliamentary Dept.

Please read this at Union Meetings

I have had some worrying moments when it ied that the Gottrnment might bring in late closing of hotel bars without a referendum. Liquor controlled newspapers have urged this as also did some members who attended a National Party Conference. I wrote letters of protest to the Prime Minister Dame Hilda Ross and the Hon. Mr Marshall, and to the Secretary of the National Tarty. In the Prime Minister's letter of reply, he said, "it is very valuable to have these opinions and 1 wish to thank you for writing to me. I will on these views to my colleaK Dame Hilda Ross said, "I can assure you that I wil! do my best not to have the drinking hours extended in this country. The difficulties we are having with drunken drivers at the present time should bring home to everybody, not only the problems that now exist, but what would occur if the hours were extended to 10 o'clock. Thank you for your support —it helps." The Secretary of the National Party said, "hll Conference did not adopt any proposals to in evening opening of hotel bars without a referendum. The remit pa>sed was as follows, 'That the Licensing laws be amended to enable much needed reforms to be effected, in the sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages'." It appeals that this will not happen now, but only vigorous protest will keep it from happening. District Secretaries received letters from me, asking them to ensure that local unions protested to their MP's against evening opening without a referendum, and to pretest also against the suggestion of the Parliamentary Select Committee which investigated the XZ. wine-making industry. The two worst ones for which I asked protest were, "The sale of *ines in restaurants and grocery stores."

The late F. B. Myer declared that the sale of liquor in grocery stores was a great evil, as it made it so easy for women to procure liquor Other recommendations included (1) That holders of wine-sellers' licences be freed from the requirements of keeping records. (2) Thai the hours of delivery of wine be extended to the same hours that apply to breweries. (3) That the present legal maximum strength of cider at 15 per cent, be raised to a maximum of 18 per cent (4) That the provision for the sale of dessert wine in half gallon quantities be made permanent. More and more facilities are asked, to help the wine makers, but no thought is given to the results which, if carried to their logical conclusion, would bring us to the alcoholism of France, now proving such a problem there. Unions that have not yet protested against the sale of wines in restaurants and grocery stores are asked to write to their M.P'b immediately. Under the auspices of the Tauranga X.CAY. Mrs D. Nell gave a broadcast address over Station IYZ, in which she gave an account of the successful ettoris of the N.Z W.C.T.U to obtain the female Franchise. It is good for people to be reminded of our efforts, especially so near to the poll Members are asked to ensure that every possible vote is cast for Prohibition. If the vote is much reduced, efforts will be made and are already be:rg made by the Trade to secure the elimination of tb* Licensing Poll. The Liquor Trade would then be a permanency and would obtain more and

more concessions. Members in church and other organisations should endeavour to have these bodies make protest Let us take heed to Mrs K. V. Sheppard's message on the eve of the first election at which women voted in 1893. "For over 50 years our Empire has been governed by a woman. Can the women of N.Z. now govern themselves ? Will they choose upright members to make righteous laws that will be a blessing to themselves and a noble example to all the world, or will they be led aside by party cries and so sacrifice their splendid opportunity? Do not think that YOUR SINGLE VOTE DOES NOT MATTER. The rain ihat refreshes the parched ground is made up of single drops. If our women earnestly resolve to vote for none but good members and good objectives, there will be a moral uplifting of our politics such as the English Nation has never known." We are again governed by a woman, our Queen, and these words are as true as they were 64 years ago —L. K V. Grigg (Director L. and P. Dept.)