The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1894.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1027, 30 March 1894, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1894.

As a brief space has been aftorded for reflection and for obliterating any little bitterness that may have been engendered during a contest deemed of vital importance to the community, the public will now be able calmly to view the results of the elections for licensing committees and the local option polls last week. It will be admitted that, as a rule these contests were carried out fairly and openly. So far as we are aware no undue advantage was sought or taken by either side. The electors had long and seriously considered the question to be submitted for .their decision and recorded, their votes according to their conscientious convictions. Nor did they make any secret of the direction in which their votes were to be cast, as, in the* Clutha district for example, the result was vev.y accurately disclosed and fully believed in prior to day of the election. The elections have fully demonsti'ated that all over the col on j a general dissatisfaction existed with the conduct of the liquor trade, and the question with many electors was whether the number of licenses should be reduced and a still further attempt made at better regulation, or whether the retail trade should be altogether abolished. The decision of the country .as disclosed by the. recent polls is in favor of the former course, but it must be the remembered that a majority of those voting favored prohibition, although the carrying of this proposal was prevented by a three-fifths majority being required. So far as principle is concerned a bare majority is undoubtedly the correct thing, but a three fifths majority has the advantage of finplty of decision, whereas a victory by only a bare majority might lead to renewed contests. There is also this consideration that the same roll of electors is used in the, election of members of the House of Representatives, and for taking the local option poll, and seeing a majority of the electors have declared for "no license," the same majority are in a position to elect members of Assembly who will support a measure to alter the three-fifths majority provided for in the Act to a bare majority. One important result of the local option poll has been to show the strength of the temperance party, and no one more than a member of Assembly will be ready to take advantage of this knowledge, and to square his policy ' and record his votes in the House accordingly.- It is thus easy tc bp seen that should the New Zealand Alliance reintroduce their bill of last session it is bound. to pass, and at the S nexc triennial, poll ; 'no license " will carry throughout New Zealand generally. Then it would only remain' for the legislature to pass a bill making prohibition the law of the land. Certainly this proposition is now brought within the sphere o£. practical politics, and many also believevthat its accomplishment is now broughfciwithin measurable ; --'.■■ -1 . ' ' '*=[ )¥ i ■■'■■ ■•'■ ':*'■'

distance. The Cluth'a, however, is not greatly interested in these speculations. It has already decided l>y tbe necessary majority for no license, and this^decision will take, effect three months hence. Such is the will of th,e people, and there the matter rests. Henceforth the people of the Clutha will only look on as spectators— interested spectators indirectly, Up doubt— -on the continued struggles between the. temperance and liquor parties: When it conies to o measure of prohibition for -the whole Colony, the Clutha will once more step in, and, with, the aid of the'experienee. the district will then have gained, will occupy a position of influence -in the cause.