THE DANGER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18066, 5 April 1919, Page 8

THE DANGER.

Tub great danger to be feared, and guarded against, ou April 10 is that the poll on the licensing issue will Be n comparatively small one- The Prohibitionists knew what they were about when they struck the bargain that gave them the right to a decision on o bare majority and a poll apart -from the general election, because for the first time in the history of the struggle in this country tho prohibitionist party was given the chance of a snatch victory. It is essential, therefore, that the electors should appreciate the seriousness of the obligation to vote on Thursday. We believe that it would be a disaster if prohibition should be carried, hut it would be a calamity of the first magnitude, from the point of view of political peace and social reform, if prohibition were forced upon the people by an actunl minority of the electors. The danger is very real. The exclusion of the State Ownership issue from this poll means that the true voice of the people is not being ascertained. Tho fight is between tho prohibitionists on the one hand and the Trade on the other, between ihe abolitionists and tho believers in the system of private ownership, while the great body of true moderates—those who have no direct interest in the maintenance of private ownership and no pronounced prejudice to ensure their voting—may be tempted into an attitude of dangerous indifference. The provision that required a substantial majority of the voters to carry prohibition was a wise one, because it afforded a measure of security against a catch decision and equally a measure of security against the reversal of the decision on another catch vote- It meant that even on a small poll the canying of prohibition would have the endorsement of a reasonably largo body of tho electors. But thofe is no such guarantee now. A single vote may “decide the issue, even if only half tho electors on the roll record their votes. A. well organised minority may thus determino the policy for thg whole of, the people, and tho closing down of the hotels would follow so quickly after the poll that Parliament would have no opportunity to intervene. Tho minority at tho poll may bo a majority of the people, and there is no guarantee in that case that the majority c- tho people will submit to tho decision, or that, submitting nominally, they will not regard the illicit manufacture and sale of liquor as a venial offence and give their countenance to anyone evading tho law. That this danger is not imaginary is proved by the experience cf practically every State that has adopted prohibition or partial prohibition without securing tho ericorsement of an overwhelming majority of tho people for the step. The prohibitionists, urged on by an emotional and often unreasoning enthusiasm, svill poll their full strength on Thursday, but it may too easily happen that the great body of moderate opinion will bo very inadequately expressed at the ballot box. It is this danger against which wo have to guard. Especially do wo urge that it is the absolute duty of every elector who regards State Ownership as the sanest solution of tho problem to record his vote in tho only way that will afford him an opportunity of voicing his conviction State Ownership was deliberately excluded from the issues of this poll, the Trade consenting or offering at most only a partial opposition because compensation was offered to it, tho prohibitionists pressing for tho adoption of two issues because they wanted to keep the moderates out of the field. It rests with tho moderates now to save the situation. If they fail to record thoir votes for continuance on Thursday they have no later opportunity of voting for sane reform and a lasting settlement.