The sun., 1919-04-02
QUEBEC PREPARES
FOR VOTE ON BEER
Referendum Is Planned for
Whole Province to Decide
the Issue.

QurBxc, April 1.-The forecast OF
the Quebec license bill given by the
Canadian papers last week was con-
firmed in the main when the bill was
distributed ana explained in the house
by Walter Mitchell, Provincial Treas
urer.
Tho bill provides for a referendum TO
DO called between now and April 15 next
TO permit the people TO choose between
beer and wine on ono band ana prohibi-
ton on the other. It was made plain
by Mr. Mitchell that should the majority
OF the people decide In favor Of beer and
wine II would only apply to those places
IN the province where prohibition In not
ut present in force.
In places where tho Canada temper
ance act-is in force II will remain in
force until It is repealed and beer and
wine licenses will not be issued for those
places. Even IL n county or municipal
ity now under the Canada temperance
act has cast a majority vote IN favor of
beer and wine It will not be able to sell
beer and wine as long as II remains I'M
der the act.
Mr.. Mitchell stated explicitly that
there would be no local option in the
referendum. II would be Q vote of the
whole province and the majority would
ray whether they wanted beer and wine
or not.
The question which will DO submitted
in the referendum will be as follows:
"Are you in favor Of beer and
other malt liquors or wine and beer
being sold for beverage purposes
provided the maximum of alcohol
contained In beer and other malt
liquors does not exceed 2.51 per cent.
weight measure. and provided the
maximum of alcohol contained in
wine and cider does not exceed 6.e&
per cent weight measured The an
swer will be yes or mo-"
IF the majority vote 10 in the affirma-
tive" said Mr.. Mitchell. ''then we will
permit the sale of beer and wine of the
strength mentioned. This will mean that
the strength Of beer will be b.46 proof
spirit and that of wine and cider will be
equivalent to 1900 proof spirits"
Going on to explain tho measure as
introduced. Mr.. Mitchell said that It
provided, first Of all, for the prohibition
of Intoxicating liquors Of all kinds and
descriptions except that the Government
might authorize q number OF vendors,
not to exceed 25, who would be placed
in charge of depots in Montreal and
other places where prohibition was not
In force for the purpose Of supplying
spirituous liquors for industrial, mechan-
zeal, artistic, sacramental and medical
purposes. These vendors would not
have the right to sell for beverage pur-
poses and tho license fec in Montreal
would be 5000.
In Quebec the fee would be $4,000 II
the Canada temperance act was re-
voked. but II the act remained in force
there would be no authorised vendors
in that city. a. the temperance act was
paramount II the vote should be In
favor of beer and wine tho intention OF
tho Government was to issue about the
same number of licenses throughout the
province as eHsted at present. The
Government ineended that there should
be no bars. and tho provision of the &C,
in this regard as we'll as prohibiting
treating should remain unchanged
Mr.. Mitchell also explained that the
measure would permit the importation
OF liquor from Europe and ten license,
would be issued for this purpose. bur
these importers would only be- permitted
to sell to authorized vendors and II
other provinces which were authorized
to purchase.
He explained that the licenses &c
authorized vendors and to importer
would be granted BY the license com
missioners.
The bill received its first reading.