THE LICENSING VOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 11 December 1914, Page 7

THE LICENSING VOTES.

VIEWS OF PROHIBITION LEADERS

i WELLINGTON, Dec. 11. Asked this morning whether he had anything to say on the results of yesterday's polling, Mr John Dawson, I secretary of the New Zealand Alliance,! said that as the figures Avere incomplete he could not give a definite idea' as to the nature of the result, and could therefore only make a general statement, but AA-oiild summarise the position when he had full data. "I am,"- he said, "very pleased to find that there are only .a \-ery small percentage of three-fifths men elected to the House, so that Aye have some hope I of getting legislation more in the direction of democracy and fair play. I have only one more point to stress at. praent. A thing that I think is most' to he deplored is the attitude of the' public press on a great national matter affecting the Avhole people. The system of advertising to which they have become a party " has undoubtedly misled thousands of people. Tiie campaign of innuendo and hiisrepiesentacion indulged in has : been one tiiat must recoil on the heads of the gaiity parties. In this connection I particularly refer to the improper ana misleading use. made of the re--marks of Sir Rohert Stout, Avho, as everyone should know, has beeai a consistent supporter through the whole of his public career of majority rule on tile liquor question. In Parliament, in 1893, when the three-fifths handicap ' was imposed on the people, he fought ! it to the very last. He lias never sAverv- ' ed from thai; principle and Avould no ' doubt make his position plain to-day if , his official position Avould permit him ' to speak on a subject of this character." I

The Rev. H. J. Comrie, chairman of the executive of the New Zealand Alliance, said: "There appears to have been a falling off in the vote for Niplicense and prohibition. I am not surprised at it under the present circumstances, and I do not look upon it as an indication that the gioAvth of the prohibition vote has been permanently' checked. I recognise that all great reforms are achieved sknvly- and through many difficulties and '.occasional reverses. It's a long long Avay to Tipperary, but we are not down-hearted."