The Guardian (And Evening Star, with Which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1938. LICENSING POLL.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1938, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with Which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1938. LICENSING POLL.

When the general election day arrives there will be also, a poll taken-on the licensing question. This is stated in ‘three issues, namely: For National Continuance; for State Purchase and Control; and for National Prohibition, i The trend of public opinion in the past is'interesting as indicated by the last poll, and that of a decade earlier. Here are the comparative figures: . ; • 1925 1935

For National Continu- ' anee 299,590 521,167 For State Control and Purchase . 56,037 57,499 For National Prohibition 319,450 243,091

It will be seen there was a remarkable change in the .'Noting. It would appear that the country has come to regard the existence of the trade as a necessity for its general well-being. The Dominion is aiming at becoming a world centre for tourist traffic, and gleaning some of the distributed wealth through that channel, which Switzerland, Canada, and other countries derive from a great tourist traffic. Then, of course,, there is the revenue producing value of the trade. Through customs duties, a large return is recovered annually. ■ The details of wines and spirits duties are not at hand, but last year upwards of 'a million was derived from beer duty, which sum was a substantial/ advance oil the year before. There is, too, the local body revenue derived from hotel and accommodation house licenses, between £40,000 and £50,000, while valuable properties involved return substantial annual rates. For the general administration of the country both in regard to general and local body costs, there is a substantial revenue derived from the business. On the other hand, there is a fairly solid body of opinion opposed to the liquor traffic, but the statistics show that it has been declining in voting strength over the years, and is now far less articulate than it once was. Another aspect has also cropped up. Under the social security scheme, the - national revenue, and general turnover, is material in '.aiding the financial success of the scheme. More than ever the revenue from the licensing trade in all its brnjiches, is now essential for economic reasons affecting the stability of the national and local body accounts. The wiping out of such revenue at this juncture particularly would throw j< greater onus on the general taxpayer and the individual ratepayer. For the reasons advanced, and from the trend of public opinion as revealed by past voting, it may be expected that the result will continue to be manifested in the figures—that the country desires the retention of the trade under national continuance. The half-way house of State control is not likely to make any real gain, as it would appear the public service would not be as satisfactory as it is under private ownership. A substantial vote for continuance would make plain the feelings of the people, and be a stepping stone to the long overdue overhaul of the licensing law which needs to be brought more up to requirements to serve the travelling public to more satisfactory effect If New Zealand is to become a great tourist centre.