LIQUOR QUESTION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16350, 23 October 1918, Page 6

LIQUOR QUESTION.

♦ PROSPECTS OF REFERENDUM. (SPECIAL TO "JH* JPJ&ESS.") WELLINGTON October 22. Although Sir Joseph Ward made 't quit© clear that his statement in respect to tho liquor referendum represented his own views, without consultation or discussion with any of his colleagues, very considerable importance is Deini; attached to it by tho. prohibitionists, who maintain that it indicates tho general disposition of the Cabinet towards the proposal of tho Efficiency Board. Thero may not be good grounds for this assumption, but other Ministers are not inclined to commit themselves on tho question, and cno or two of them regard the principle of the referendum with frank disapproval. It probably will bo found, however, that a majority of the Cabinet —whicn will mean, of course, tho Cabinet itself —will be favourable to referring the question to tho electors on the line 9 suggested by tho Efficiency Board, and that a majority of tho members of the House will b© glad enough to follow the lead of the Cabinet and to divest themselves of what responsibility they can in connexion with the liquor profilem. Tho Timaru petition asking for a poll on tho licensing quostion contained ■IT-27 names. It was presented to Mr J. Craigie, M.P., prior to his leaving far Wellington, and he promised to do a'.l he could in supporting it. A Press Association telegram from Oamaru states that Mr E. P. Lee, M.P., carries tho Alliance petition for a j >U on tho licensing question, bearing 1254 signatures.