STATEMENT BY PARTY PRESIDENT.

Grey River Argus, 19 September 1918, Page 3

STATEMENT BY PARTY PRESIDENT.

TWO PETITIONS PROPOSED. GENERAL ELECTION AND FOUR .LiytJUK ISSUES. iPer Prebs Association.) DUNEDIN, September 18. Hon. J. 1. ±*aul, iNatiunai President oi the iNew Zealand Labour Party, states thac the party has determined to ask the' electors u> pronounce against any further delay regarding tiw holding of a General Election. The .National Executive of tne Labour Party, he points out, is in serious disagreement with the rival petitions on the licensing question now beluiti int- electors. 'ihe lMuscuuve contends that the peviuo-n asKing for xrohibitiun with V/ompensation, is a limitation of democrats rights, as a considerable body ot the electors desire to vote on other issues. ihe second petition, asking for a poll on three issues, is, says Air Paul, legarded as an interference with, democratic rights, because it will prevent the expression of, the people's will on tins important question. 'Ihe Labour Party demands a settlement of the liquor question on democratic principles. The Labour Party has decided therefore, to issue two petitions, one de^manding a General Election early next year, and the other demanding a poll on the liquor question on four issues, namely: — (1) National Continuance; (2) Immediate National Prohibition, with Compensation; (3) Immediate National Prohibition without Compensation ; (4) National Ownership. The Labour Party demand that these issues shalPse decided by preferential voting using the single transferable vote.