LICENSING REFORM

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 47, 19 November 1925, Page 10

LICENSING REFORM

Sir —The remarkable increase of the referendum vote for licensing reform should be carefully considered, by all friends of temperance. It is clear that these fifty-two thousand did not approve of Prohibition by a possibly v er y small majority, or they would have voted for prohibition. Unlike the prohibitionists, they had no desire to force total abstinence upon an unwilling people, by means of the police and magistrates, backed by the army and navy. To many questions a simple answer of “Yes” or “No” cannot be truthfully given. Either' answer would be misleading. So, if the . prohibitionists had succeeded in eliminating the reform issue, those who could not conscientiously vote for prohibition would have had t« vote for Continuance, thus conveying the impression that they 7 were satisfied that the law should continue as it is, and that no reform was necessarv. The second issue, owinj?, partly to its faulty wording, has been overlooked in the past, but, now that attention has lately been called, to its importance as signifying a desire for reform, we have seen a large increase in the vote for it. . , , , Then, we may be certain that almost the whole of those who voted for continuance would geadily support measures for lessening the temptations and facilities for drinking. We much as to the enormous power of the “drink traffic,” but that power has been grossly exaggerated. Sunday Closing, and, later on, six o’clock dosing, were submitted to by the drinkers. Where was the “power” of the “drink traffic?” The fact is, that brewers and publicans are powerless against the public. When we know brewers and hotel-keepers, not merely as a class, but as individuals, we find they are much the'same as other .business men. On the whole, their btiiness activity is within the restraints of the law, and, if further restrictions are imposed by the general public, those will be observed as the present ones are. As the Prohibition question is settled for three years, would it not be reasonable and wise for those who have voted for Prohibition, to lav aside, for the time being, their ideal and the mistaken belief that the drink traffic cannot be regulated or amended, but can only he ended ? The Alliance executive may perhaps have no power to alter its platform, vet, if those who have supported it would co-operate with the fifty-two thousand voters for reform, and with the still greater number who, voting for Continuance, would welcome reform, they might agree upon some scheme, or at least make useful suggestions to the Government. Rea! advance, is always gradual, and in recent years we have sden too sudden or radical changes, meant to be reforms, accompanied with crime, suffering and even bloodshed, and there is always the danger of reaction. No measure seriously affecting the whole community ought to take effect by a referendum bare majority vote, in several No-license districts Restoration would have been carried if a bare majority vote had been allowed.—l am. etc., W. H. HODSON