The Licensing Issues.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19032, 21 June 1927, Page 10

The Licensing Issues.

lii the letter "which we print to-day the Rev. W. J. Williams, writing ivitli intent, to condemn our opposition to the New Zealand Alliance's demand for a two-issue ballot-paper at the licensing poll, strengthens the ease we put forward. He says that it is a "glaring " anomaly" that the people who vote State Control should find their votes going to support Continuance. We do net see why the Prohibitionists should complain of that —these votes are votes against Prohibition, and it cannot concern the New Zealand Alliance that they are added to the votes for Continuance, which are also votes against Prohibition. It is a little ridiculous, however, of our correspondent to complain that this is what happens to the State Control votes when they are a minority; because the Alliance has officially declared that it would sooner have Continuance than State Control. Actually the Alliance prefers that the State Control votes should go to swell the Continuance total. The Prohibitionists, of course, have no grievance at all. How can it possibly be an " unjust handicap " upon the Prohibitionists that a section of the anti-Prohibition votes should have the effect of anti-Prohibition votes? And if it is a " glaring anomaly " that the supporters of State Control find their votes —which are votes against Prohibition—being added to the .votes for Continuance, how would our correspondent describe the anomaly of forcing these voters into a , choice between two things of both of which, they disapprove? Our correspondent's profession of concern for the supporters of State Control would bo less amusing if his and the Alliance's dearest wish were not the disfranchisement of thGSe voters. The question which the Alliance and its backers have to answer is the question we put to them yesterday: #Does the "present ballot-paper enable every "supporter of Prohibition to■ vote for " Prohibition, and does the law provide " that, if a majority of the electors do " vote for Prohibition, Prohibition will « fee carried?" When they answer that question directly we shall be prepared to give space to their answer.