WAIAPU REFORM LEAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 837, 11 March 1903, Page 3

WAIAPU REFORM LEAGUE.

At a meeting of the General Committee of the Waiapu Temperance Reform League, hold yesterday afternoou, the following report of the sub-committee on the policy for the League was adopted : Tour Committeo finds that there is a consensus of opinion throughout the colony that the present state of the liquor traffic is net satisfactory, and will not bo tolerated by moderate-minded persons ; but that, on the other hand, Prohibition or no-license is not the true remedy for the evils complained of. At tho same time they are aware that u, very large number of electors have in the past voted for no-license, not that they believe Prohibition is the ulti mate remedy, but that tbo law allows them only certain options, none of which is tho true remedy, and they have in order to protest against the existing ovils voted no license. Tho no-license vote has now been given a full and fair trial, it having been before the electors of Now Zealand for tho last 12 years, arid elsewhere for much longer ; and it has, in tile opinion of fair-minded thinking men, signally failed in this colony and in other parts of the world to accomplish the ends proposed. The time has now come for the Parliament of New Zealand to be approached and asked to amend the present law, so that more practical and beneficial reforms in the liquor traffic may bo made. The •suggested amendments being (a) the granting to the people, instead of tho nolicense option, that of assuming direct control of the liquor traffic; and (b) the passing of certain remedial measures.

A DIRECT LOCAL PUBLIC CONTROL,

Tho opinion, already widespread, is rapidly Ruining ground that tho only practicable path for tho final reform in tho liquor traffic lies in the direction of elimination of private profit. This League is therefore advised to adopt that principle as tho basis of tho ultimate reform for which it contends. Fortunately, reforms on those linos have now passed boyond the merely experimental stage, and wo have, in formulating a scheme, the benefit of tho expe-

rience of our predecessors. A vast amount of valuable information upon the subject has been given to the public by Messrs Bowntroe and Shorwoll, in their books “ The Temperance Problem and Social Beform ” “ British Gothenburg System Experiments,” of which your committee has availed itself.

Without particularising details too closely, it is suggested that some such scheme as the following be proposed, it being always borne in mind that, except in tho main principles involved, the scheme is at present tentative, and may, in the light of the criticism it is certain to receive, be materially modified and improved.

It is desirable that the country bo divided into convenient licensing districts, not larger, certainly, than a borough or a county, as the case may be ; nor, on the other hand, so small as to break up any community where unity of interest exists, the important point being absolute control in each case of a well-defined district.

At the licensing poll, instead of the nolicense vote, a vote of tho people should be taken as to whether tho liquor traffic should be brought under direct looal public control.

On a district declaring for this principle, tho Licensing Oommittee should bo appointed with an additional nominated member representing the local body, Borough or County Council as the case may be, with provision for retirement of rotation. The functions of the Licensing Committee should include the sole control of all the hotels in the district. The existing licensed houses would be taken over after a fair notice—say six months after the declaration of the poll—at a valuation to be determined by some competent Court. It should then be com-

petent for the Licensing Committee to increase or decreuse the number of public houses as it shall see fie in the public interest. Provided that no new licenses should be granted in any particular locality if a certain percentage of the bona fide residents of that locality objects, except in thinly populated routes of travel. Each public house should be under a manager appointed by the Committee, at a fixed salary, and possibly a bonus on all business other than the salo of alcoholic liquors. No women should bo employed in the sale of liquor; only liquor of the best quality should bo supplied ; and stringent rales should bo observed as to the hours of closing and the serving of persons under age. The manager would be personally responsible to the Committee for the good conduct of the house, and be liable to dismissal and further proceedings as the Legislature may require for allowing any drunkenness or other breach of the rules. The Government should find the.necessary capital at 5 per cent., with arrange-

meat for sinking fund and other facilities for further repayment by instalments as funds are available.

After paymont of cost of management, depreciation, interest, and sinking fund, the surplus of profits of such district should be paid into a central fund to be dealt with as follows: A fixed proportion, say, 90 per cent, of such surplus. in each year should be paid into the Stato Exchequer (the proportion of this amount contributed by any district being credited as repayment of capital advanced so long as any liability rests on that district), the balance of tho central fund should then be divided between the several districts which have adopted the scheme, in proportion to their population, and placed in the bands of Trustees, elected in each district, for expenditure upon such objects of public amusement and interest as are not properly chargeable upon rates, with the proviso that all such amusements or attractions shall be in no way connected with the public houses. The public and government interest would have to be safe-guarded in any district where tho principal of direct public control had been adopted. The whole interest in tho properties involved would ultimately beoome vested in the community and provision would have to be made for preserving this valuable asset for the benefit and in the interest of the people, in the event of any such premises being closed as hotels.

REMEDIAL MEASURES. In addition to the above, certain remedial measures should be made by Parliament of general application throughout the colony for the better regulation of tho liquor traffic in those districts which may not at present elect to bring their traffic under immediate public control. In such remedial measures it is suggested that the following be included : I. That the monopoly in the trade which is created by the present law should bo broken up, and tho question of granting new licenses should be left to tho com-

mittee upon the report of tho Magistrate and police; provided that there should be no now licenses granted in any particular locality if a certain percentage of the bona-fido residents in that locality object, exception being made on routes of travel whero there is little or no settlement.

2. To disallow tho employment of females in bars except where they are intorosted in the business or are immediate relatives of the licensee. 8. To appoint in the chief centres analytical chemists as inspectors, who shall travel through the country and make surpriso visits, and shall have power to seize liquors and have them tested at the expense of the Crown. Upon a licensee being convicted of having adulterated spirits upon his premises he shall he subjected to heavy penalties. 4. To prohibit any person under the ago of 16 years from going into or loitering about a billiard-room or bar-room of any hotol unless such person is thero for some special business purpose. 5. To prohibit and fine any person resident in the place found od the premises after closing hours, whether he has liquor or not, unless he can satisfy the Magistrate that he was there for some necessary purpose, such as medical attendants, etc. 6. To fine a licensee harboring such a resident after closing hours, and, if necessary, endorse his license. Pending tho passing of tho legislation necessary to give effect to these proposals the Lcaguo should use its utmost endeavors to 3ee that the present laws are efficiently administered, and should en- ; courage the adoption of such praotices as m ay mitigate the evils of intemperance.