"LIQUOR QUESTION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16404, 26 December 1918, Page 8

"LIQUOR QUESTION.

CAMPAIGN IN NEW SOUTH WALES. - (FBQJB OTTB OWK COEBESFONDBNT.) SYDNEY, December 13. A recent vote in the New South Wales Assembly has caused a little perturbation among the liquor interests in this State. The Government permitted one of its supporters, a y weil-luiown prohibitionist, to move a motion asking that the Liquor Act be amended to provido for a poll on State prohibition at the next general elections (eighteen months hence), the issue to be decided by a bare majority. This was debated at considerable length, but was agreed ,to by a considerable majority, and the Government is now committed to it. The liquor interests are now preparing for a big fight, for the adoption of the bare majority opens up to them a risk with wiuch they were not previously faced. The people of this State, as a whole, are not easily aroused in the matter of liquor reform, but there is nevertheless a big and solid body of prohibitionists whose energy and enthusiasm can onlv bo countered by strenuous work. . The -decision of the people of New South Wales to close the hotels at 6 o'clock instead of 11, as a war issue, was agreed to bua majority which' greatly encouragea tho prohibitionists, because it was the first majority of the kind they had secured in this State. But it is beyond any doubt that many thousands of people who supported early "closing as a war measure will not support total prohibition in peace, although most ot them seem inclined to accept some form of early closing as a I permanent arrangement. One J nine o'clock most frequently suggested, and there is a disposition, even "among the hotelkeepers, to ,agree to that. It has been demonstrated in the past three years that early closing cuts out the hours of drinking when 90 per cent, of the harm is done, and that it does not seriously interfere with "the Trade.-' If prohibition should be carried here, it is provided that compensation be paid. This will represent an enormous expenditure. Further, it would rum a most valuable industry—wine producton. Huge sums have been invested in this indnstrv, and the qualitv of the wine made from Australian grapes is so good that viticulture is promised a bright future. The prohibitionists are organising a vigorous campaign, _ stimulated by the example of the United States and Canada, and am getting speakers from America, so I a fierce contest between the opposing! interests is likely to develop in the | next year or so.