LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2680, 9 December 1909, Page 6

LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS

ri’icit Press AssooiATroN.i WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. The following resolutions were adopted at tlie confwence of the licensed liquor trade of New Zealand l on tho motion of the Hon. O. Louisson, M.L.C., seconded by Mr. Walter Johnston : (1) That this meeting of delegates from the brewers, wine and spirit merchants, and licensed victuallers of New Zealand views with surprise and indignation the action of the No-Li-cense 'party in, deliberately repudiating an agreement entered into between their official representatives and the Representatives of the trade for the amendment of the licensing laws, and emphasises the fact that at the date of the meeting of tho conference of No-License delegates at Wellington, at which such repudiation was decided on, the above mentioned agreement had already been signed by the official representatives or both •parties, and a draft of a proposed Bill, embodying the agreement, had been agreed to by the solicitors of both parties, through the final arbitration of the Hon. Dr. Findlay, and the suggestion coming from the No-License conference that an-alteration should be made in the terms of the agreement cattle too late, and was simply a weak attempt, to justify a* most ignominious repudiation of a written agreement. , (2) That tliis meeting and the trade of the Dominion will oppose by every proper and legitimate means in their power uny nttonipt to deport frorn. t)io “three-fifths majority” ' for either “local No-License’ ’or “Dominion prohibition,” except on the express condition that the principle of “one elector one vote” shall bo introduced; two issues only to be on the voting paper, viz., local NoLicense and Dominion prohibition, and that the time limit, in case of local No-License being carried, be not less, than two years from the date of the poll, and in the case of Dominion being carried be not less than five years from the date of the poll. (3) That this meeting is of opinion that the Right Hon., the Rrime Minister should in the interests and welfare of the public and the Dominion introduce and pass into law, as outline™ in his Financial Statement, such legislation as will carry out the agreement entered into on the 6th November last between the representatives of the New Zealand Alliance and the trade, . and that- a copy of this resolution be forwarded to him with a respectful request to give the same effect.