In Reply

Your letter of the 31st March has been referred to me for reply. My Executive has unanimously rejected the proposals as outlined by your Association, and I have been instructed to state that this Association is not prepared in any way whatever to lend its support to your movement.

It is considered a most inopportune time, when so many of our men are overseas—there are about 360 students from this College alone [unclear: abroac] at present to raise once again such a controversial point as an alteration to the licensing laws. One remembers with some misgivings how similar reforms were urged towards the end of last war, without our men overseas being given an opportunity to express their opinion thereupon. I may say that as the present holders of the N.Z. University Drinking Horn, the students of this College would most emphatically reject any such proposals as laid down by you, whether or not my Executive supported them.

I notice with amusement that you have not bothered to review the question of "tied houses" which, one is compelled to conclude, is probably the greatest factor against a more orderly control of the liquor trade. The [unclear: idefegs] submitted for your attention for what it is worth.