LICENSING POLL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16402, 23 December 1918, Page 7

LICENSING POLL.

TAKING OF SOLDIERS' VOTES

SUGGESTIONS TO SIR J. ALLEN,

It appears that tho regulations gazetted last week governing the taking of the votes of oversea soldiers do not make any provision for giving them information of the details of the changos effected by tho Licensing Amendment Act passed in the recent session. In viow of the urgency of the matter, the presidents of the Returned Soldiers' Association and tho Second Division League, after consultation, called unofficially on Sir James Allen, ActingPrime Minister, at Wellington, on Saturday morning, to request that the Government should take steps to officially acquaint every soldier with the matters of fact relating to the issuos of the • special referendum. The follpwing suggestions were made to the Minister: —

Tho soldiers should be provided' with the greatest facilities for voting, and every means used to ensure their franchise. Every soldier should have postod to him a voting paper and an explanatory leaflet. The voting paper should be presented to the electoral officer, together with military pay-book; tho voting paper to be valid when endorsed by tho electoral oflioer and entry made in pay-book. In the event of a voting paper being lost, a fresh one should be issued and entry made in the pay-book to that effect. Any soldier unable for any reason to apply at a polling-place should havo tho right of voting by applying to his 0.C., to whom would be delegated power to endorse voting-paper, and make entry in the pay-book, and forward the voting paper duly sealed to the electoral officer. The leaflet should show: — A Special Referendum of the voters of New Zealand is to be t/akon on the Liquor Question on (date). The issuee to be submitted are:— I Vote for National Continuance. I Vote for National Prohibition, with compensation (to the Trade). A bare majority of tho valid votes cast to decide the resuit. Term : If Prohibition with Compensation is carried it will hold good for all time, and no further vote on the Liquor Question will be taken in New Zealand. ,Ir National Continuance is carried, a further poll will bo taken at the General Election following, at which tho issues submitted will be:— I Vote for National Continuance. I Voto for Stato Purchase and Control. I Vote for National Prohibition (without compensation). A bare majority of the valid votes cast in favour of any one issue decides the result.

Compensation: The compensation to bo paid to the Trade in the event of Prohibition with Compensation being carried at the Special Referendum is estimated to be within £4,500,000 (4} millions). The present revenue from the manufacture, importation, and sale of alcoholic liquors is estimated at £1,000,000. The interest and sinking fund would bo £350,000 on amount of compensation, making a recurring annual liability of £1,350,000 if Prohibition is carried at the Special Referendum.