PROHIBITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 181, 30 July 1912, Page 4

PROHIBITION.

B.OIX-ST U _'_'I_N G -LIXBGATIOJU, -_T_T_-RIOUS EXCESS OF FIVE THOUSAND. (By Telegraph.—_>peckrl to " St_r."\ WELLINGTON, this day. Strong comment on electoral-rolls UH( at the last general election is contains, in the New Zealand Alliance annual re. port. "When the Electoral Census Act was passed.'' it says, "we looked forward to having the cleanest roll that New __~ land ever possessed, but the amendin. I Act of last, session created a condition I that can only be described as chaotic. Tlie result was that when the rolls were I printed there were many thousands of I names on them which had no right to be I there. There were about five thousand ! more names on the -rolls than there were adults in the Dominion." The report adds that this estimati must be well inside the mark when it is remembered that the statistics of th. adult population include all the adults in gaols and asylums, all who had not qualj, fled because of recent arrival, and those who refused to enrol. It suggests then should be absolutely a new start in *h» formation of rolls, the electorates divide, up into such sections as will give , chance of checking, and rolls closed in March and September of each year so as to give opportunity to ascertain if there has been roll stuffing. The action of Archbishop Redwood in calling upon Catholics to vote against prohibition "as it would interfere with the celebration of the sacrament," \_ <] 6 . plored by the Alliance. "The time for repose is not yet," j_. marks the report. Under the heading relating to Parliamentary affairs, is e_g. gests that if an election occurs before the usual date, attention should be concentrated upon securing the return of men who, regardless of party, will give the Prohibition party justice at the ballot boxes. Serious attention is urged to the proposal to secure separation of the licensing poll from the Parliamentary election. Other matters urgently calling for legislation, according to the report) are. removal of the majority handicap, repeal of four years' delay after prohibition is carried, new definition of "har" 1 as will secure that liquor is supplied only in one room which opens out into the street, breweries to come under popular vote where no-license is carried, and to secure a poll at the next election following, whenever that may be, if Parliament dissolves before the usual period. The balance-sheet shows that the Alii, ance met all its expenses for the year, and reduced its overdraft by over £800. The year's income was £3,831. The overdraft now stands at £200. Not less than £20,000 was spent during the last three years' campaign.