THE LICENSING POLL.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17633, 9 December 1922, Page 16

THE LICENSING POLL.

FINAL FIGURES. t OVER 16,000 AGAINS? PROHIBITION. <TBES3 ASSOCIATIOX TELEOBAH.) WELLINGTON, December 8. The final result of the Dominion licensing poll, exclusive of 16,000 absentee and seamen's votes, is:— Continuance ... 272,448 State Control ... 84,261 Prohibition ... 290,566 Majority against Prohibition ... 16,138 Of a total of 19,000 absentee votes, 3000 have already been recorded. AMENDED FIGURES. Additional and amended figures are as follows: — © "3 • o h p — a "8 2 "3 - o **'■& Districts* g 8 o 2^ ■J 3 5 °'-S en £fc Clutha ... 3291 258 .3640 Wakatipu ... 3399 198 2614 Wallace 12 ... 3551 170 3187 Franklin ... 2861 450 4320 Mataura ... 3136 222 348 V Waimarino ... 4128 416 2272 Kaipara ... 3106 365, 3803 Thames ... 3143 290 3502 Ohinemuri ... 2915 458 3204 From Wallace there are two email Teturns to come. LOCAL OPINIONS. People prominently connected with Afferent phases of the licensing quesjon were interviewed yesterday on the result of the referendum taken the previous day. , A statement from the point of view of the Moderate League organisation, which advocated the claims of the State Control issue, was made by Mr J. J. Dougall, president of the Chriefcchurch branch: of the League. "1 must frankly confess," said Mr Dougaa, "that I am disappointed that State Control did not receive a considerably larger measure of support from the pubho than it did yesterday. Possibly there are several reasons why the General public did not support ft more, he one great objection that we met with in our campaign was that people objected to the notion of State Control in any shape or form, and contended that whenever the State attempted to deal with any concern on busines lines the result was unsatisfactory. Another factor was that the Moderate League strongly condemned the present legis- ' lation dealing with State Control and repeatedly told the electors at meetings that they were not prepared to support State Control and purchase in its present form, but advocated a measure which would leave the Government free to take only such premises as it thought fit and to pay compensation by Government bond. The measure we advocated is at present in forc» in the Provinces of Quebec, in Canada, and which has met with considerable success there. Another point is that State Control was to some extent sprung upon the people a* a snrprisej This is the only election at which there 1 has been any active advocacy of the measure and that activity was confined largely to Christchurch and Wellington. The Moderate League, however, intends to continue its efforts and hopes within the next three yean to do . something towards educating the pub-lic-on the desirability of State Control as>the solution of the liquor problem. Mr" Massey promised a deputation which ' waited upon him-about two months ago that" if Ae were returned to power he wc-uld drastically,- alter 'the Sicensmg Law and'also imaterially amend the <i Statute' dealing' with Stat©, Control so aajto brine it ijibre into,'line with the wieWs of the Moderate' League. What < the present Parliament will do is open to'..conjecture, but I hope that it will , carry out the promise *made by Mr j Massey." STATEMENT BT A PROHIBITION , y LEADER. j » JEhe chairman of the National Prohibition Campaign, Mr J. I. Royda, ' made the following statement to a "Press" irepreßentative last night:— ~ , f.The result of the poll ia unsatisfactory frota every point of view. The > Prohibitionists have not reached their ' objective, and yet the Trade is left suspended over a precipice aa before. A comparison'of the figures of the 1919 v poll with the latest figures available for ' ~ this year shows that Continuance has x only improved its position by 1 per cent', of the total votes oast, and this ; gain 'has been at the expense of State Purchase and Prohibition, which - have , both" declined less than 1 per cent. This means that the-position is substantially the same as it -.wasin 1919, for such a fluctuation is so trifling as to'indicate practically no movement in any direcV tioh. As th© law stands at present, - every vote for State Purchase ia count- - ed'-'as a vote against Prohibition, but porkers on both sides know that this is , not correct.. It 1 is manifeKtly as fair ' tpv&ay. that a vote for State Purchase , ' is*, a vote against Continuance as to say that it is against Prohibition. This - nfeons that the real issue is between Continuance and Prohibition, and if the '.-. State Purchase votes are disregarded, 0x,,, what comes to the same thing, " divided equally-between the two mam 7 issues, Prohibition has an absolute mo- ' 'ibrity of some 20,000 rotes. If, howeyer, you take into account the votes of the 8000 petßons convicted of excess last year, and the votes of the 60,000 or more, who exceeded, but who, according ' ta?£he police, would have filled the lockups'to overflowing if arrested, the posi- -- tipn is_tliat of the stable members of community on both sides, a, majority of "at least 70,000 of them desire ' \the abolition of the liquor traffic. The '- will of thjs overwhelming majority must - : 'fintt its expression in> Prohibition in the near, future." ~. l ""<Mr L. M. Tsitt stated yesterday that -' W*preferred not to express an opinion "' 'Vn'the licensing poll'until the final iesnlts were known. , ",The Rev. W. J. Williams also pre- ' ferred to wait for definite information.

N.Z. MODERATE LEAGUE. INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT. (FBXSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 8. Aiterviewed on the result of the lioensing poll, Mr D. M. Findlay, national president of the New Zealand' Moderate League, said the result could only be interpreted as another indication of the determined opposition of the majority of people to Prohibition in those parts of New Zealand where the League had been able, with its limited finance, to organise and educate the electors on the meaning of State Control, "for that iseue had substantially improved." The State Control vote had been hampered with faulty conditions governing tho issue, and it would be tho Moderate League's aim to have this matter remedied so that the people would in future have a reasonable and definite scheme before them when they went to the ballot box. As no issue had been carried, it meant tne continuance of the system of private enterprise until such time as a further vote of the paople was'due. In this respect tho Moderate League hud already made proposals to the Government Ut improve the licensing law in a.number of directions. The Lcaguo would call a conference of its branches at an early date to review, the position, with the object of pressing for an entirely new licensing Act. It was to bo hoped that the setback received by Prohibition would lead manv of those who supported that ksue, in the mistaken idea that it was temperance reform and within the bounds of practicability, to abandon their lost cause and join with the Moderate League in moving for real temperanco reforms. The League, from its formation in 1914, was ready to welcome to its ranks all th'gse who wished to improve our already notable record for national sobriety, r,nd' it was to bo hoped that tho opportunity to join together to secure better conditions would not any longer be allowed to slip by, either by individuals or organisations. The Moderate League was, determined to press on with the programme to which it was* pledged. DUNEDIN OPINIONS. MR 0. SPEIGHT'S COMMENT. (SPECIAL TO " THE PBESS.") DUNEDIN, December 8. The Dunedin "Star" on the "Prohibition set-back" says: We feel sorry for a great many Prohibitionists who had set their whole hearts upon the victory of a cause in which the most unselfish devotion has been shown by them. However, we must believe them to be mistaken in it, but the vote shows unmistakably that New Zealanders as a people are not yet prepared for the drastic _ operation .which enthusiasts would impose upon this country. The Prohibitionists will *not despair, that is not in their nature, since the StateControl vote has Tather more than maintained its strength, despite all tho disadvantages under, which it was put to the electors. They are not likely to be successful during the next 'Parliament in having that issue removed from the ballot paper. Endeavours will no doubt be made by them to get the legislation so amended that Prohibition would be able to be passed at a future poll by the equivalent of a bare majority ca a single issue, but the drastic change which Prohibition contemplates obviously is not one that should) be made by a bare majority. If the serious attempt which, the various parties have been promising to reduce the present evils of the liquor traffic by improved control and regulations is fenuinely made in the coming session, 'rohibition in three years' time may be a much less attractive cause to New Zealanders than it is to-day. The Provincial Council of the Otago Liquor Trade, through its chairman (Mr 0. Speight) expressed gratification this morning at the result of the poll so far. It was an indication, he said, that the moderate section of the community were strongly of the opinion that there was no need for Prohibition in New Zealand, a country that.. was generally conceded to be the most temperate in the world. The council, added Mr Speight, was not looking upon the result of the poll as a victory for the liquor party, but for those whose ■ main concern was to see the Dominion, carried on on a .sound basis. A significant phase, of theyptv ihg was the decrease in the number cast for Prohibition, even in No-license districts,' : many of which had,, actually shown a majority -for continuance. Speaking of the promised new licensing legislation, Mr Speight said he considered thiat the Council for the Licensed Tra"de should be given recognition, especially in regard to applications for new licenses. Its concern in this direction was always for the improvement in the personnel of the "trade," and so for the interests of the public. : Another point upon which the Council felt strongly was that of the/better security of tenure. In eleven years five polls,had.been held on the issue, and Prohibition was today further than ever from being carried. In view of this expression of the will of the people and in the interests of the public generally (especially of the travelling public who were in the present circumstances handicapped by the lack of accommodation), it was only reasonble to ask that the ". trade" be given a rest from these persistent trials of strength, and an opportunity to place matters on an entirely satisfactory, footing. " A leader on the. No-license side said": "The result;is disappointing—there is no disguising that fact— ; but we are not discouraged. The No-license cause will fight on. One of the main contributing factors to the result as we have it is, no doubt, the wonderful organisation of the Continuance Party. Its cleverness in making people think that Prohibition might, in some mysterious and .unspecified manner, cause unemployment and raise the price of tea."

Mr H. S. Adams, president of the United Temperance Reform' Council, said:—"The position is still uncertain, and until finality is reached nothing definite can he said. The immediate result of the poll is disappointing, but the Prohibitionists have been too long in the fight to allow that to hare any effect upon them. The struggle has been carried on for over forty years, and whilee the figures so far obtainable do not seem favourable to the reform which we have at heart, it is coming as surely as the rising tide. The sentence may be delayed, but the liquor trade as certainly doomed in the country as if the Prohibitionists had won their cause. The results illustrate again the unfair handicap under which temperance reform is attempted) here. The Continuance vote has a minority as was the case in 1919, and the Prohibition majority is rendered ineffective by the provision which adds the State purchase vote to the Continuance vote. The Moderate League has always denied any connexion with the trade,' and assuming that it advocates State purchase as an independent reform, there is no justification whatever for the present position under which the minority rules. The fight will be continued by the Temperance forces with the same energy and vigour as before, and it oan have) only one ending-"•

N.Z. ALLIANCE RESOLUTION. NEW CAMPAIGN TO-BE INSTITUTED. (SPECIAL TO "THE KRESS."} WELLINGTON, December 8. Regarding the licensing poll, the executive of tlse New Zealand Al.iance today adopted the following resolution : "That the executive of the New Zealand Alliance records its profound gratitudo for the energy and enthusiasm which has been thrown into the campaign for Prohibition by thousands of faithful workers in all parts of the Dominion, while deepiy regretting that their labour* have not been crowned with success. Tho executive is satisfied: (1) That the result is chiefly.due to the groundless fear that prohibition will aggravate instead ot relieve the financial depression, widespread'_ unemployment,- aud heavy burden of taxation entailed by the war and to other temporary causes arising from the same source. Tuit the educative effect oi one of the most strenuous campaigns ever fought, by the party will remain for the benefit of its future piopaganda. (3) That the executive wi.l at an early date convene a conference of the party with a view to instituting a new campaign which will ensure victory at the [coming poll."

LICENSED VICTUALLERS GRATIFIED. Asked by a representative of "The Press" for the views of Canterbury licensed victuallers on the result of the licensing poll, Mr A. Peverill, secretary of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers' Association, said : "The vote was quite as large as expected, perhaps a little bigger than we thought we would get. It proved that the public of New Zealand was not led away by Prohibitionist propaganda, but took a reasonable view of the matter. As far as the liquor trade is concerned, it will welcome anything for the betterment of the trade. It is hardly necessary to say that no one in the trade has any sympathy with the. abuse of liquor, or with anything arising out of its abuse. Judging by the condition of the Dominion during the past few years, there is no doubt that the weight of public opinion is with the trade in this view of the matter, and is recognising that the abuse of liquor is decreasing. Taking an all-round view of the vote cast on Thursday, we think that it is most satisfactory. There is no doubt that the trade l , was better organised on this occasion than ever before, and the gratifying result obtained is due, in some degree, to that improved organisation and also to the good sense of the majority of the thinking public." ' ' ■ . REV. J. DAWSON'S PROPHECY. "THE CROWNING DAY WILL YET COME." (SPECTAI, TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, December 8. "We will fight on," said the Bev. J. Dawson, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance when discussing the result of the poll. "We are very dissatisfied with the conditions under which wo had to fight the issues, two to our one, and are very insistent that Parliament must give us fairer conditions. We recognise that the continuance vote has increased during tho last three, years, but we do not for a moment believe that that issue carries the judgment of the people, who have been alarmed by the panic argument of loss of revenue and unemployment which has been raised by the trade, whose interest is to push the sale of liquor at the expense of the country." Mr Dawson said he Tegretted that •the health of Mr "Pussyfoot" Johnson was suffering slightly. He had gone to Eotorua for a few days to % see what the treatment there would do'for him. "Less than 6 per cent, of the voters have availed themselves, of the State control issue, which is a distracting rather than a national one," Mr Dawson went on. "It should either be removed or our votes should be put on the same footing as the Parliamentary elections, the one getting the : largest vote to carry the day. We have started a new campaign to-day, which will never rest till this country ';is -free from the licensed traffic, 'which is\ the greatest monopoly it recognises. We express to bur supporters throughout the Dominion our highest appreciation of their devotion and sincerity, and. assure them that' the crowning day of all their efforts will yet come." "THE FIGHT WILL GO ON." (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCARGILL, December 8. Mr Baxter, a prominent Prohibitionist, gave it as his, opinion that the defeat of the' Prohibition "Party had resulted from the completeness of.the organisation ranged against them by the trade and the campaign of misrepresentation throughout the Dominion, assisted, with one' or two exceptions, by the Press of New Zealand. Tne appeal made to prejudice and self-in-terest unfortunately showed the trade's grip on the young people, said Mr Baxter. _ Reform in the direction ot eliminating the State Control issue must be made. . Prohibition had hau no set-back, but was still in a majority against, and the fight would go" on. PRONOUNCEMENT BY THE TRADE ' NEXT WEES:

(press association telegram.) WELLINGTON," [December 8. From enquiries made in Wellington in Liquor Trade circles, it was ascir tained that a pronouncement with respect to the licensing issue would be made at a later date, —possibly when the National Council shortly meets in the capital city. Until then no official statement from the Trade's point cf view will be made. "Naturally we are very pleased," stated one official, "but we have no wish to be. jubilant and flaunt our victory on the issue placed before the people. We were content to let the people decide and the people have decided. All 1 can say is that very naturally we are satisfied with the manner in which the people manifested their desires.'*