Liquor Referendum

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 302, 9 December 1922, Page 4

Liquor Referendum

CONTINUANCE LEAD GROWING. NOW’ OVER SIXTEEN THOUSAND. ABSENTEE VOTES NOT COUNTED. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, Dec. 8. The final of the licensing poll of votes other than 16,000 absent voters and seamen is as under: — Continuance 272,443 Prohibition 290 4 566 State Control 34,261 Majority against Prohibition 16,138 Of the 19,000 absent votes 3000 have been recorded. VIEWS OF THE PARTIES. THE TRADE GRATIFIED. Wellington, Dec. 8. From inquiries made in Wellington among trade circles it was ascertained that a pronouncement with respect to the licensing issue would lie made at a later date, possibly when the National Council shortly meets in the capital city. Until then no official statement from the trade’s point of view will lie made. “Naturally we are very pleased,” stated one official, “but we have no wish to be jubilant and Haunt our victory. The issue was placed before the people and we were content to let the people decide. The people have decided. All 1 can is that very naturally we are satisfied with the manner in which the people manifested their desire.” MODERATE LEAGUE’S PLANS. Wellington, Dec. 8. Interviewed on the result of the licensing polK, Mr. D. Al. Findlay, national president of the New’ Zealand Aloderate ix‘ague, said the result couid only be interpreted as another indican tion of the determined opposition of the majority of the people* to prohibition. in those parts ot N«w Zealand where the league had been able with its limited hnance to organise and educate the electors on the meaning of the State control the vote for that issue had substantially improved. The State control vote had been hampered by the faulty conditions governing the issue, and it would be the Moderate League’s aim to have this matter remedied, so that the people would in future have a reasonable and definite scheme before them when they, went to the ballot box. As no issue had been carried it meant the continuance of tho system of private enterprise until a further vote of the people was due.

In this respect, lie (*00110110(1, the Moderate league had already made proposals to the Government to improve the licensing law in a number of directions in the public interest. The league would call a conference of its branches at an early date to review thep osition with tho object of pressing for an entirely new Licensing Act. It was to be heped that the set-back received by prohibition would load many of those who sVPP° rtp d that issue in a mistaken idea that it was temperance reform and within the bounds of practicability to abandon their lost cause and join with tho Moderate League in moving for real temperanc<* reforms. The league, from its formation in 1914, was ready to welcome to its ranks all those who wished to improve the already notable record of national sobriety, and it was to be hoped that an opportunity to join together to secure better conditions would not any longer be allowed te slip hv, either by individuals or Arganisations. Tho Moderate League was determined to press on with the programme to which it was pledged. AN ALLIANCE RESOLUTION. Causes qf the setback. Wellington, Dec. 8. Regarding the licensing poll the executive of the New Zealand Alliance to-day adopted the following resolution:—“That the executive of the New Zealand Alliance records its profound gratitude for the energy and enthusiasm which has been thrown into the campaign for prohibition by thousands of faithful workers in all parts of the Dominion; that while deeply regretting their labours have not been crowned with success. the executive is satisfied (1) that the result is chiefly due te the groundless fear that prohibition will aggravate instead of relieve the financial depression, widespread unemployment, and the heavy burden of taxation entailed by the war, and to other temporary causes arising from the same source ; (2) that the education effect of one of the most strenuous campaigns ever fought by the party, will remain for. the benefit of its future propaganda; (3) that the executive will at an early date convene a conference of tho party with a to instituting a new campaign, which will ensure victory at the coming poll. ’ INVERCARGILL PROHIBITIONIST’S VIEW. Invercargill, Dec. 8. Air. J. S. Baxter, a prominent prohibitiopist, gave it as his opinion that the defeat resulted from the completeness of the organisation ranged against them by the trade and the greatest campaign of misrepresentation ever known in the Dominion, assisted, with one pr two exceptions, by the press of New Zealand. An appeal was made to prejudice and self-interest and unfortunately shows the trade’s grip on th© young people. Reform in the direction eliminating the State Control issue must Im* made. I rohibition had had no setback, but was still in <he majority against the two other issues and the fight would go on. THE'STATE CONTROL ISSUE. PROHIBITION PARTY DISSATISFIED Wellington, Dec. 9. In a formal statement on the result of the licensing poll, the Rev. J. Dawson says: “The party will fight on but it is very dissatisfied with the conditions under which the poll was taken. It recognises that the continuance vote has increased, but it fiaims that State control is a distracting issue •which should l»e removed or the result decided hy the issue which obtains the largest vote, as m the Parliamentary elections. The new’ campaign has already started.”