THE NO-LICENSE QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2399, 14 January 1909, Page 5

THE NO-LICENSE QUESTION.

[To the Editor.] - Sir, —While reading some old Christchurch papers X noticed a statej 1.. alit* T IC.- Tsivlrn* to

inolit made by Mr. T I<.J aymr to tho effect that the Prohibition 1 arts intend to try to pass a Bill through Parliament this coming session to substitute local option carried bv a d-o majority bv National no-license to be carried bv' a bare majority. Jo my mind this latest move shows the striking inconsistency of the NoParty. When the much-dis-cussed clause 9 was befone the House the prohibitionists, amidst howls of indignation, objected to its passing, yet what is National no-license it not a resuscitation of that particular clause? It would not be a crime to bo found witli liquor in private houses, but it would be impossible to_ buy liquor in New Zealand. Once National no-license is carried it will become unlawful to sell alcoholic liquors m the Dominion. Every wholesale merchant and brewer will be compelled to shut down or find a market outside the jurisdiction of the Dominion Government. Is this not, to all intentions. clause 9. Now for the- 3-5 versus bare majority—We frequently hear of slv-grog sellers doing a largo yet illegal business in districts- which carried no-liee-nse by the 3-5 majority, yet should no-license be just carried by a bare majority it woidd be much easier to carry on this illicit traffic, because those in favor of no-license would not be, numerically, strong enough to ensure tlie enforcement of tho law. At all events if such a Bill ever gets! through the Parliamentary Committee the debate afterwards should be interesting.—l am. etc-. £ ‘PRO B ONO PUR 1 jIC'O . ’