The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1935. LICENSING POLL.

Evening Star, Issue 22191, 20 November 1935, Page 10

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1935. LICENSING POLL.

A fair proportion of the population might almost be excused if they were ignorant of the fact that, along with the political pioll which is fixed lor Wednesday next, a licensing poll will also be taken. There have been times when the second issue could provoke more excitement than the first. Before the last poll was taken wo had reason to write: “Politics is only politics to some people who will go to the polls next week, but another matter to be considered there, that of Prohibition, is much more than that; Prohibition is a religion. National salvation from all troubles, it is firmly believed, will be surely found if only a majority of those who now drink to excess, and of those who do not, will eschew, and force others to eschew, alcoholic liquor.” But Prohibition no longer raises the hopes that it did. Its place as a cureall has been taken, not necessarily for the same minds, but in prominence, by the “new economics,” of doubtful newness, whose power to lead the common intelligence after an equal will-o’-the-wisp is still to he tested. No longer do Prohibition orators rend the welkin before a licensing poll. The vote, in New Zealand generally, has become a formality to all intents and purposes. That has been due to a number of reasons. The Prohibition cause was waning when a poll was last taken. The vote for continuance was then greater than that for the other two issues, National Prohibition and State Control, combined. Now, for seven years, there has been no poll. It was waived at the election of four years ago as a concession to needed economy. And ( in the meantime, Prohibition has been killed by trial—trial given- to it in the best way, not at New Zealand’s expense, but at that of other countries, which should he left to make the 'test of its succeeding nostrum, manipulation of the currency. First Finland and then the United States, after a lengthy experience of attempted liquor coercion, decided that the “ noble experiment ” was a’ disastrous delusion and abolished it witli more joy than they had accepted it. And when fEe United States, which had set the pace for its gospel, killed Prohibition it killed it, for a long time to come.at least, for the rest of the w r orld. The law requires that, for any main licensing issue to be carried in New Zealand, it must have a clear majority over the other two issues' combined. There is not the slightest possibility of Prohibition achieving that position at the forthcoming poll, whose main interest will accordingly reside in the possibility of certain present No-license districts reasserting their earlier liquor rights. In Invercargill very confident hopes are held by the opponents of Prohibition of this result being achieved, and, apart from all other aspects, the restoration of licenses would have distinct advantage for that tourist traffic which it is now an increasing object to promote. The solo obstacle to a restoration of licenses Jn Invercargill is that the three-fifths majority still required for this particular issue makes no ordinary hurdle to be surmounted. When this year’s poll on the liquor question has been taken, it is likely that we ■■ shall hear less of Prohibition and more of redistribution of licenses. That brings in the anomalous case of Ashburton, which is unable now to vote for restoration because it was included by the Electoral Boundary Commissioners in a “wet” area. The belief was largely held, after that was done, that it would mean the restoration of licenses. The Privy Council decided otherwise, and there can be no remedy now for the injustice suffered by Ashburton voters without a special. amendment of the law, which has been deferred hitherto because revision of the licensing law has involved, in the past, too many uncertainties for any Government to embark upon it voluntarily.