THE LICENSING LAW.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2641, 25 October 1909, Page 5

THE LICENSING LAW.

PREMIER’S REPLY TO DEPUTATION^. TTee Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 23. Replying to a deputation representing the New Zealand Alliance urging certain reforms in the licensing law the Premier said lie thought it was only right for him to say that nothing m the way of legislation would be done this session. The representations made to him would be considered with a view to legislation next session. The bare majority question and the Dominion vote were big proposals, and lie fully recognised there was a strong feeling m the matter. ■ He was in sympathy with the cause of temperance reform, but those questions would have to receive very careful consideration before the Government could arrive at a definite conclusion. The Government had always kept before it the question of what would happen if Dominion 110-li-cense were carried, .apart altogether from the question whether it was desirable. .Last year the country received £788,104 revenue from the importation of wines, spirits, and. beer, and in the event of Dominion prohibition being carried, about two-thirds of that amount: would have to-be provided by means of taxation of some kind. It would mean a tremendous change in our system' of internal taxation. -■ In regard to the locker system, the Premier said he quite agreed-that legislation'should be brought in to put an end to the existing state of tilings, which was an undesirable substitute for the former system in places where no-lic-ense had been carried.