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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2657, 12 November 1909, Page 4

LICENSING LEGISLATION. The licensing legislation announced by tbe Government is almost revolutionary in its character, and it is difficult to understand how Dr. Findlay has succeeded in arranging it as a basis of agreement between the prohibition and the liquor parties. Under the system now proposed it would seem that national prohibition is within measurable distance, for if the voting at next licensing poll follows the trend of tbe past ten years, an effective majority will be secured in 1911 hy the No-license party. Tn that case the year 191 G would see, not meieli no-license, but national prohibition in force in the Dominion. Apart from the question of a national veto, the reduction of the three-fifths majority pro. vision for local option polls to one of oo per cent, is such a substantial concession to the No-license party that they can afford to view with equanimity the implied compensation given to the publicans in the extension of the closing notice from .six months to two years. On the other hand, it is possible that the liquor interests arc building oil a revulsion cf feeling in their favor, in winch case restoration in no-license districts such as Ashburton would not be nearly so hard of attainment as it is at the present time. It certainly seems as though the Nolicense party has got all the best of the bargaining that has been going on, and the legislation now proposed is of quite a startling nature.