LICENSING POLL, 1928

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 48, 20 November 1928, Page 13

LICENSING POLL, 1928

Si r —l n to-day's issue you publish interviews with the party leaders concerned in the above poll. Being an up-country resident, may 1 give another viewpoint. The liquor party must have spent an enormous sum on the poll, raised by direct tax from imporlers. brewers, and licensees, actually paid indirectly by consumers of liquor. The amount raised is said to be upwards of £lOO,OOO. As this huge sum comes from the people, I make this suggestion: That the new Parliament should enact that one-half of any money so raised in future should be handed to the nolicense people, to enable them to give voters the other side of the case. All statements published dealing with the licensing issue should be signed by a resident in this Dominion, and severe penalties imposed on those publishing incorrect statements. No license can claim a great moral victory, because there was no self-inter-est, aiid only the truth was published. No-license voters voted for the candidates who were willing to give the voters the fairest deal on this matter. For the first time I found myself unable to vote Reform because of the views on licensing held by my local candidate. Many others that I know did the same, and the seat was lost to the party.—l am, CIC ” ELECTOR. Feilding, November 16.