THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2119, 19 February 1908, Page 1

THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE COMING ELECTIONS. BARE MAJORITY TO BE ASKED FOR NEXT SESSION. In view of the approaching elections, the No-License organisations in various parts of the -Dominion are organising an active, campaign, -anil the most notable step they are taking is an agitation for -an -alteration in the voting arrangements. They will petition Parliament next session to have the liquor question decided by a bare -majority vote, and the grounds upon which they base tins request -are set -forth in a form that js at present -being circulated bv the Oroua No-License League -as follows: 1. That -in the Electoral District, of Oroua, as also in 35 other (recto nil districts, ‘tho granting of licenses for the sale of liquor is lawfullv continued notwithstanding that at the last local option poll therein a minority only voted that the granting of such licenses. should continue, and an absolute majority voted that no sucdi licenses should bo granted.

2. TTi-TT your petitioners pray you to consider the grievous iiijusirce inflicted uiioii the majority of tne voters -in this electorate hereby, and petition vour Honorable House to do what is necessary towards legislatively remedying this anomaly immediately. especially in view of the approachitio- recurrence in this year ol our Lord, 190 S, of the triennial licensing polls. . . In support ol' this, their petition that- the law be -amended to provide that every issue submitted at the licensing polls shall be determined by the majority ot those l who vote, your petitioners would submit — }. That -the existing law is purely and harshly arbitrary, having not even the pretence of justification of being based on the oft belauded-, but unwarranted plea that an *xoe.ptioual majority is necessary for the lue enforcement of No-license, i larmucn as it provides that- where a \o-iioense policy lvas been lawfully affirmed at ‘the poll, it shall be continued, notwithstanding that at the next following -poll or polls only -a minority of the voters, being over 40 per cent, of them, continues to support it. 2. That in Ashburton, where, mainly through the existence there of a chartered club, and the change of law ill relation thereto between the two polls, -there was at first a threefifths majoritv in favor of No-license, and then an over 40 per cent minority only, and the administration of the law lias improved notwithstanding the minority vote only in favor of No-license, experience has abundantly shown that no exceptional majority is needed for the due enforcement of No-license. 3. That in their judgment, the solo effect of the present law is to give to tho licensed liquor trade at -the outset at the polls a great and unjust .advantage over -the people, all 'of whom are sufferers directly or indirectly by its existence. 4. It is recognised to be right that an absolute minority of those who vote in any electorate shall determine who shall be -returned -to Parliament to enact legislation affecting the most vital interests of the people, ami that in Parliament such legislation shall be determined by the majority of those who vote thereon, and your petitioners cannot see that- the qnestion of grant in" licenses to sell liquor has any claim, whatsoever to exceptional treatment, as respects the majority to determine it ol the electors voting thereon.