TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 112, 16 November 1928, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY

The first count in the National Licensing Poll is now complete, and shows Prohibition to bo in a minority of 131,909. Absentee, postal, and seamen's votes may alter this, but it is safe.to assume that the minority will not be greatly reduced. On these figures Prohibition has polled 40.47 per cent, of the total valid vote. The percentages, since National Prohibition was made an issue, have been:—Two-issue polls: 1911, 55.83;' 1914, 45.99; two-issue with compensation: 1919 (April), 49.00; three-issue polls: 1919 (December),: 49.71; 1922, 48.57; 1925, 47.32; 1928, 40.47. At each poll sinco 1919 the Prohibition proportion of votes has dc'clin cd. There was a steady decline before this year, and special circumstances have accelerated the movement. What is to bo gained by this constant polling? Clearly nothing but information which is interesting to students_ of sociology. On the other hand, much is lost. A trade always under three years' notice to quit cannot be expected to show to the best advantage. Moreover, concentration of public attention upon the question of abolition is a great bar to reform. Finally, the submission of the issue simultaneously with the political poll causes confusion and prevents many electors from giving to the political issue the consideration which it should have. More than ever, it appears to us, there is a warrant for extending the interval between polls.' Let us have a rest from the abolition fight and make a serious effort to introduce reforms. In a measure this adjusts the handicaps placed upon electors. Tho classes provided for are all worthy of consideration, and some of them (the mothers-to-be.and the dwellers in lonely places) deserve special consideration. While giving them this attention, wo may question whether other electors in easier circumstances are not demanding too much. In 1925 it was -stated that the absent voting privilege was being abused. Some electo sought to take advantage of it to savp themselves a short walk or tram ride. It wis made widely known prior to polling day this year that absent voters, to secure permits in such circumstances, would have to satisfy the electoral officer that they could not vote in their own electorate. without inconvenience. That is only reasonable. If tho elector will not take a little trouble he should not be allowed to vote. His interest in the issues is evidently not sufficient- ]• serious to warrant his exorcise of the privilege. Nowadays the average voter has to do very little. Everything i made ready for him. It is possibly partly because voting is so easy that the poll this year—if AVellington is taken as typical—is lighter than in 1925. * « -s:Somo ten seats in- the election show results so close- that there1 is a possibility of change when tho absentee, postal, and seamen's votes are counted. About fifty thousand such votes are involved —a high percentage in a poll of between 600,000 ana 700,000. Tho absent voters' permits this year show an increase on the average over those issued in 1925. The postal votes are entirely new, though not so numerous. Still they add appreciably to the total. Such provision adds to the work of the electoral department, and may, as in this instance, make tho final result in doubt till the last minute. It is in line, however, with the demand for the widest extension of the franchise. There cannot bo much greater extension of the franchise than wo have at present. Every adult of sound mind who is not serving sentence is entitled to voto when he bus qualified by residence for enrolment. Indeed, ho is compelled to enrol. But some electors are practically disfranchised by their circumstances. The postal voting removes tho j

i|l(!nl(illl.y pitted on sonui of !,!)«.:.. It hikcl-h ttio ii'iedn of tmvt'llif.rij, !,f b/ir.l:b|iicl'.':i')i five miles from n Ikk/Ui, of expectant mot horn, aij-.U .hm! infirm [ir.rmm, and ]ighllum*i>.|.w-i^!<\-Local opinion in the WVli'fjijijiM iii;.countH for the defeat nl1 the iliiii; i ; D. 31'Leotl by suggesting tliilt illt: \-\\^' tors wished to try sonu>tMi|£i \\y.-v jiijii were dazzled by tho l!l\'it:m! f7*:*»-'*->" promises. This may Ju> su-. i:,i;ii: certainly takes explaining. MV: ?.!•'!.f.Hii is acknowledged to lumi iluini gnw! work for" his district; tint; |\i< jijttj ;|taij j jjiven excellent scrviw U\ l'l[}\-; fiftr. hind as a whole. Ho viuviuit !:!i)'Hll|>!i tho task of clearing uj> tl*t> s^iflji.f j<f-| ; ; tlcmcnts with a voui;ij|o wlliMj iii!:i wvov boon fully rowipl-ieil.. Hf; ||(il|| t!w K'tl.'tiioe fairly betwt>t<i\ Uiu siidlii-is Nsr.vi tho poopic! of Now ftoalami wild Iliiii !U» )>ay tho bill; and \vMl.> Ui^r-M XW j s\>tiio v'omphiints tho snmll mllimliPj: nf I ?V,<v.o \\m.< proof of tl»i> Hmruilgliih-os iv.vi ,<ymn:uhy with whU'h Ilia wfi|:t* was vlvxno. It is tnio tlilti llm : I «",v>'i> *«suU' Mr. M'J.ooil ni'.vnimialii- ftiji--i wn\»s "liunl sotilomonti bill, -wi! ii! Ms ivosshinsm ho .<ln>wfnl (lia piinip I'ouraso :\nd honesty. Ho 'lid jlut ?i!; iomps to IU-luilo tho pooplo wilii {j|iiVv = ins promises. Ho trusttnl i)it>lli iiiiil told thorn plainly what ho tltnUi;Ji(.» Such qualities in public mini Hro i)u|. so common that1 Now Zi>iitiuiil nilii afford to lose the services of 01111 who possessed them in such nit'iuiui'iii JM.S defeat by an opponent who won I. In Umj district, almost as :i strini^i-i', Iri Olii.i of tho great surprises of i\\v (iliMillim.