THE LIQUOR POLL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 70, 16 December 1919, Page 8

THE LIQUOR POLL

Though interest in the Parliamentary election has overshadowed the fight over the liquor issue, it would be a mistake to imagine that the importance of the outcome of the struggle has been lost sight of. The poll to-morroM' will see the forces for and against the liquor trade voting as strongly as ever. There is, however, a now clement of uncertainty introduced: that is, as to whether or not the new issue of State control will have any material effect in diverting support which in the past has gone to one side or the other of the old contending factions. In April last the issues submitted were Continuance or Prohibition with compensation. So far as the votes cast in New Zealand were .ccm-. ce'rjVted'thefe" was on that j occaßio,n' , .u; majority "in favour of Prohibition.-

As will b« remembered, the voles of llie soldiers overseas reversed this decision. Whether the soldiers would have voted as solidly as they did against Prohibition had they been living with their families in the Dominion and under the influence created by close contact with the campaign propaganda may he open to doubt, but that, doubt cannot be tested on the present occasion owing to the change in the issues to lie voted on. Electors should not lie deceived as to those issues. They arc simple enough, but they are being confused in some quarters by misleading literature. We have before us a propaganda matchbox bearing a printed slip intimating that."your vote is lost if you do not cross out two lines thus." This slip, which is obviously issued on behalf of those who support Continuance, is liable to deceive the ig J norant or unwary from the fact that its inaccuracy consists in the unjustified inclusion of onlv one small word. It is quite correct to say that "your vote will be lost if-you do not cross out two lines" on the ballot paper; but when the word "tints" is added, together with the issues marked so as to indicate a vote for "Continuance," it constitutes a form of deception for which there can be no excuse. Whether it is a breach of tho law or not we do not profess to know, but it is wholly reprehensible. ' . The actual position can be simply set out. There are three issues on the ballot paper, namely: Continuance, State Control, and Prohibition. The elector, in casting his vote, can only vote for one of the three issues. That is to say if he favours Continuance he strikes out the two bottom lines; if State Control the top and the bottom lines; if Prohibition the two top lines. The point to be noted is that to make a valid vote it is necessary to strike out two of the three lines. To carry Prohibition'it is necessary to have an absolute majority of the total votes pollod; and the same applies to the carrying of State Control. Thus, if there are 1000 votes pollod, with 400 for Continuance, 150 for State Control, and 450 for Prohibition, Continuance wins. Prohibition, to win, would have to poll at least 501 votes. State Con-, trol to win would likewise require to poll 501 or more votes. Continuance, therefore, can win by securing a- majority of the total votes polled, and it can also win through Prohibition or State Control failing, to secure an absolute majority of the total votes. The. form' of voting' gives Continuance two chances_ of winning- to the one chance given those whq favour State Control and those who favour Prohibition. In April last the carrying of Prohibit tion meant the payment of compensation. At the "coming poll no compensation is to be paid in the event of Prohibition being carried. Should, however, State Control be carried then the whole liquor business would be taken over by tho State, and 'compensation paid ■to an amount estimated at from £10.000,000 to £15,000,000. . It is contended by those who favour Prohibition that the elimination of compensation will strengthen-their vote as compared with the April results, as many,'people objected to the principle of paying compensation for tho' taking away of the right to brew.and sell liquor.' On the other hand, ,it is argued that many people who 'arcopposed to the liquor.trade as at present conducted, and who in the past have voted Prohibition, will now vote State Control. ■As to that we shall know more about'the matter after to-morrow.- In the meantime* the- one important point, which electors should bear in mind is that it is necessary to strike out two of the three issues on the ballot paper to make their.vote valid.