THE L.R.A. "RED HERRING"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 105, 30 October 1925, Page 9

THE L.R.A. "RED HERRING"

A vote for State Purchase is a vote for Continuance. The New Zealand Licensing Reform Associate -i is simply playing the liquor party's game by drawing a red herring called Corporate Control across the path. Any other name would serve as well, because the liquor party does not care what you call the third hsue.so long as they get a third issue on the ballot paper that will ensure life to Continuance on a minority vote. Corporate Control is simply the latest fancy; name for this red herring issue. Corporate Control has been denounced by Mr. W. D. Hunt, leading financial expert, as '' the biggest financial 'steal' ever thought of in this country." Although it professes to be an answer to the challenge by the Anglican General Synod, not a single member of the Synod could bo found willing to ask General Synod to accept it. Archbishop Julius said: "It may perhaps advantage the Trade, but will certainly do serious harm to the community."

The Parliamentary Licensing Committee did not recommend Corporate Control.as an issue to go on the ballot paper. The discredited State Purchase issue is bound to como off. There is nothing else in sight in. the way of "reform," and your vote, if cast for State Purchase, will be cast actually for Continuance.

Under present legislation no third issue on the ballot paper can ever bo carried becauso it would have to get more votes than Continuance and Prohibition combined.. It does not matter what you-- call the third issue, tho fact remains tlio same. Prohibitionists would not vote for it, neither would people who want Continuance. Ev.ea if it topped tho poll tho third issue could not be carried. Supposing the figures were as follow:—

Any third issuo 350,000 j -" Prohibition 300,000 Continuance 100,000

the third issue would still not be carried, Prohibition would not be carried, and Coutiiiuance would go on, although the vote was over 6 to 1 against it. That's just exactly why tho liquor traffic support Corporate Control as an issuo on the ballot paper. They know that, humanly speaking, it can. never bo carried while Prohibition and Coutinuanco are on the same ballot paper, and that Continuance will be safe, with all it means for them of easy money. They bluff sincere and well-meaning people by pretending to want '' Corporato Control," but all tho time they are working to ensure Continuance. If you honestly don't want Prohibition, be man enough 1 to vote Continuance. Don't allow yourself to be gulled into believing anything called "reform" is likely to happen. If you don't want Continuance, then be man enough to vote for Prohibition mil cut out the insincere "red-herring" issue. CANADIAN ANGLICAN CHURCH DENOUNCES STATE CONTHOL.

In the year 1923, two years after tho Quebec Government had introduced, without a vote of the people, its Government scale scheme, tho Anglican Council of Social Service of Montreal Diocese passed a resolution in which it stated: "Wo regret 'to sco that many of the amendments to tho law have been tu-.-ards the extension of facilities for purchasing liquor, particularly in the lengthening of tho hours of sale. Your committee would like also to protest against the establishment of taverns in districts regardless ■of the wishes and against tho declared desires of the residents."

The "Canadian Churchman." in 1924 published tho following statement just before the poll in Ontario: "The same sordid story comes from every province where so-called Government 'control' lias been blindly, adopted. More drinking, more drunkenness, more - crime, nio'ro ■ accidents, moro misery, more waste—and, above all, infinitely more of tho curse of bootlegging." This prospect should send every earnest man and woman in Ontario to the polls on 23rd October to vote for the continuance, strengthening, and vigorous enforcement of tho Ontario Temperanco Act." ; Tho people 'of Ontario defeated State Control and retained Prohibition by a majority of 33,915. —(Published by arrangement.)