LIQUOR FIGHT.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15606, 2 June 1916, Page 2

LIQUOR FIGHT.

THE REFERENDUM IN NEW

SOUTH WALES,

(FEOil OUR OWN CORIIESrONDENT.}

SYDNEY, May 24

No opportunity is being allowed to the people of New South Wales to for- • get that June 10th will be polling day in connexion with the referendum as to the hours of closing of hotel and other licensed liquor houses in this State. Every unit of possible support is being canvassed for by the temperance reform party and the liquor trado interests respectively. Great sums of money are being spent on campaigning. Folks in every corner of the State arc being appealed to in a manner unfamiliar in connexion with even the most vigorously contested Parliamentary elections. As is the case in New Zealand, the temperance party is making effective use of the slogan, "National economy and military efficiency." It is holding meetings everywhere, and promptly seizes upon every chance of strengthening its appeal via Press, pulpit, and poster. The liquor party has cut out public meetings as part of ' its campaign. It is relying mainly on a most prodigal display of posters on advertising hoardings, full? page advertisements in the newspapers, thousands upon thousands of circulars, and the employment of an army of paid canvassers, who make thorough house-to-house tours. Many of the canvassers are women, and from the temperance point of view it is these well-paid and dexterou sly-tongued pleaders for "moderation" on behalf of the "trade who are doing most harm. Although the electors will have the right to vote for any hour from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., the fight is being made one between six o'clock on the part of the anti-liquor section, and nine o'clock on the part of the trade interests. The voting will h£ on a preferential basis. Provision 'will be made on the voting paper for the setting out by an elector of his preferences for the six hours submitted to him. If there is not an absolute majority for any primary hour, the hour in respect of which there is the least number of votes will be excluded, but the secondary votes on tho excluded papers will be added to the primary votes given for other hours. This process will be repeated until there ij a majority for one hour. Voters may plump for only one hour, but plump votes will count oply for the hour for which they are given, and if that hour is rejected that is the end as far as that vote js concerned. It is provided that hotels will be closed all day on polling day. There seems to be a strong general impression that, despite the strength of the liquor trade in this State, and the wholeheartedness of its fight, there is likely to be a majority for six o'clock. In the other two States of the Commonwealth which - have already voted on the early closing issue, as presented since the war, six o'clock "has won by overwhelming majorities. In South Australia, where the liquor trade concentrated its strength on eleven o'clock, the final figures showed: For six o'clock, 100,418; for eleven o'clock, 61,530; for all the other hours put together, 14,757. In Tasmania, where the liquor trade concentrated on ten o'clock, the voting was: For six o'clock, 42,713; for ten o'clock, 26,153; for all the other hours put together, 3591. It may be considered a substantial advantage to the anti-liquor party here that the referendum will be taken in the winter, and not in the drouthy summer season.