TEMPERANCE COLUMN

Evening Star, Issue 14525, 29 November 1910, Page 3

TEMPERANCE COLUMN

[By Arrangement.] THE NEW LICENSING BILL. SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER, In moving about tho town the writer finds the most general inquiry as to the new Licensing Bill to be in relation to the following points. Inquirers usually have the right idea, but desire to bo absolutely certain. No-licenso workers will do well to remember that (1) There are two separate papers. Voters will have three papers handed to them next poll, instead of two as usual—one for tha candidates, one for Local Option, and one for Dominion Prohibition. (2) Supporters of temperance have the right, and wo earnestly urge them to exerciso that right, of voting "en botli papers. The vote for both local No-licenso and Dominion Prohibition is given in each cage by striking out tho top line on the voting paper. (3) Each vote is counted entirely separately, and one vote does not influence, the other in tho slightest degree. There is no necessity to choose between Dominion Prohibition and local No-license, as voters can. vote both, and ono vote does not weaken the other. Should both Dominion Prohibition and local No-licenso be carried there will be no confusion, as it will merely mean that local No-Jicenso will begin in seven montlis after tho pull, and the stricter law of Dominion Prohibition begin three and a-half years later. (4) So far as the conversation of Hie people goes, sentiment in favor of Dominion Prohibition appears to lie more advanced in Otago than in some other parts of New Zealand. For this leason, while there might bo a tendency to do so, it would be folly to neglect to iisa the Ivocal Option vote. It i 3 possible thatit may take several elections to secure the necessary majority in all parts to gain Dominion Prohibition. Another advance like the last will, however, give local N>ilkonse to Dunedin, City, Taieri, Chalmers and South Dunedin. So far as we can the new law will greatly increase the eflicicnev of No-license. Hence, if the areas mentioned all carry it, Dunedin and its suburbs would be cleared of far mora than half the liquor evil by duly 1, 1912. Ibis will L'rc.illy assist in sweeping the whole Dominion' ''dry" in 1914. Th-.' thought of what our Otago 1911 vote might mean to New Zealand, and to the Empir.V should be an inspiration to everv woik.u". ******* Yeiy many nf our own workers do not realise the immensity nf tho privilege that has now been bestowed upon the I>coplo of Now Zealand in having the ri-dit—even by a three-fifths majority—to vote tho drink out altogether, lock, stock ;uid baiT3l, and prevent its importation as :t beverage. Observe the difference in Canada. Prince Edward Island went entirely under No-license by lxical Option by their own vote by bare- majority some twenty years ago. About twelve years ago they had opportunity to vote on the question as to Dominion Prohibition for the whole of Canada. So overwhelming was the appreciation of the L'ood effects of the eight "years of load No-license (it w.-s specially good because universal and not partially spoiled by the neighboring licenses') that tho peoplo of Prince Edward Lland voted over 8 to 1 in favor of absolute, permanent Prohibition for all Canada. Yet, though they have lweu agitating all tho twelve years sinco they showed their mind so overwhelmingly, they have not yet been granted tho boon they seek—viz., the right to prevent tho importation of strong drink to the island, at present- prevented by Federal law. ***** -x- * Thank Cod, we in New Zealand have new the right—deiued to the 8 to 1 majority of ono province of our sister Dominion—to absolutely stop all legal trafficking in alcoholic liquors as beverages. So far as human judgment goes, if three-fifths of the voters say so, we are certain to enjoy tolerably well-enforced—probably very well enforced—absolute Prohibition for live years in New Zealand. If carried in 1911. the law comes into operation in 1915. 'The first poll for Restoration that can be taken is in 1918 (three years after Piohibition comes into force). As there is no parliamentary election after that year till 19V? 1 ), unless there is a dissolution, we are tolerably certain, as dissolutions are. en rare, of a fivo years' trial period. It ought- to bs explained hero that if Dominion Prohibition is carried in 1911 there will be no liquor poll of anv kind in 1914, or, indeed, ur.lil 1920, so the 1911 poll may settle the matter for nine years at least. ******* In Swedon, with a population of over five millions, and several very large cities, they had General Prohibition for one month during the great strike. This one month's experience proved 6i:eh a, blessing to all concerned, reduced crime and poverty to markedly, and increased business to such an extent that when an unofficial plebiscite of all the peoplo over eighteen years of ago was taken shortly afterwards, those who voted put themselves on record as in favor of Prohibition by a majority or over 100 to 1. This ought to comfort those brethren who see such danger of a reaction in adopting a drastic law. As a matted" of actual fact and experience the more drastic and effectual a Prohibition or No-licenso law is, the moro popular it seems to become. What the mass of the people want is a law that will really cure the liquor evil. They are 6ick of the domination of tho liquor drinkiny fashion and tho foolish shouting system. THE CALL TO THE WORKERS. Tho now law is especially a clarion call to tho workers of New Zealand. The liquor business is a growing monopoly, How shall the workmen all over New Zealand reply to tho call that Dominion Prohibition gives ? There can bo but one answer. Beer and whisky are antagonistic to all that Unionism and Socialism stand for. Thcso stand to build up tho homo and to level up the poor to higher .standards of thought, or living, and of happiness. Drink lowers tho standard of thought, it loweit; tho standard of Jiving, it destroys the happiness of the hoine. The intelligent and thinking worker, whatever his pereomd habits may be as to drink, must bo against the thing that is antagonistic to the best interests of his ckua. It must not be forgotten, too, that local No-licediso will equally shatter and destroy this monopoly, and the spread of local No-license may yet provo the quickest way to Dominion Prohibition. So, in conclusion, we would .say to all thoughtful workers : The best things for you to do for your own interests, the best things for the interest* of your class, the best things for the interests of the nation are ". — (1) To at onco become a total abstainer, and on polling day (2) TO STRIKE OUT THE TOP LINE ON EACH OF THE TWO DRINK OPTION VOTING PAPERS.