DIRECT VETO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10221, 15 December 1893, Page 2

DIRECT VETO.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —In looking over the Prohibitionist of Dec. 9, they seem to bs very jubilant over tha late elections. Lot us try and find out where it comes in. We have at the present seventy-four seats to represent Now Zealand, and every man and woman over twenty-one years has a vote for Parliament, sho on all licensing questions. When our members are called to Wellington we have to trust to their good eanse and Honesty to work for us, and should there ha any unforeseen wants we have them to appeal to. Now, the prohibitionists want a direct vota on the liquor question. Mr Ssddon’s Bill gives every man and woman a vote with power to prohibit should they gain*a three-fiftha majority. Surely any liberal-minded parson would be content with that; but the prohibitionists want to close every hotel in Now Zealand in five minutes by a bare majority, not caring one jot how many voters go to the poll, how much property they confiscate, how tbo revenue ia to bo mado up, or about any other reforms to long as they gain their own fanatical ends. Wo should have a majority of cno ruling the minority, or ia othsr words tolling as what we are to eat and drink. That would mean the minorhy would be annihilated and their righto "and freedom taken from them because of this tricky few that are agitating and using extreme measures to suit their own ends. The great Liberal measure, one man one vote, would bs swept out o? existence. This might look very well from a prohibitionist point of view, but how would it look when the cart-off and annihilated weroaiked to pay their rates and taxes P Their cry would simply be—Wo have no say in the Government, and wo decline to have anything to do with its maintenance. Such is Progressive Liberalism, and this stare c£ things is to be brought about by our Christian Liberal friend; l . But wo are not all blind to fact?.—l am, &c., TRUE LIBERALISM.