THE LICENSING ISSUE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 118, 14 November 1925, Page 8

THE LICENSING ISSUE

TO TBI IDIIOS. I Sir, —Your correspondent dealing with the licensing polling figures is not reasonable. One cannot compare a three-issue ballot-paper on licensing with a threecandidate ballot-paper. It is plain from the figures your correspondent gives that there are over 330,000 electors in this country who ' desire alcoholic beverages in some form or other. Your correspondent's conclusion is that because there are 301,000 electors who voted for Prohibition— which was to prevent 330,000 electors from practising temperance—that Prohibition autocracy should be allowed to dominate the Dominion. That is not reasonable. . •

Stato control provides tho means for the public to'partako of alcoholic beverages, therefore nnder the present poll 52,572 voted to provide soma means whereby liquor could be obtained; and those who voted for Continuance, to the time of 279,000, said we prefer the means provided. It cannot be presumed that 301,000 who say they desire _ to prevent everyone from taking intoxicating liquor, are going to goven 330,000 who want to preserve to themselves and others tho right to please themselves. Your correspondent's contention is not reasonable. Tho Prohibitionists' ambition is to dominate their neighbours in a matter which'affects their right of free choice as free citizens. Men and women are not children. When grown men and women adopt a habit of life that suits them, and they have been free to adopt that habit they have no business to assume that they can compel other grown-up men and women to adopt their habit by any majority at all. For a whole generation, owing to a, dog-in-the-manger policy of the Alliance —that will not take intoxicating liquor itself, and -would stop the right and take away the free-will of others—we have utter stagnation in licensing reform and a shocking wasto of public and private money every three years.— 1 m> 6tC" S. LE SIMON.