LIQUOR REFERENDUM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 237, 4 September 1928, Page 7

LIQUOR REFERENDUM.

EFFECT IN CANBERRA,

SYDNEY, Sept. 3. As a result of Saturday’s vote the Federal Government lias decidod immediately to issue iicenses for the sale of liquor at Canberra, which hitherto lias been a dry area. POLL FOR VICTORIA. MELBOURNE. Sept. 3. The Government announced to-day that a poll throughout the State to decide ■whether liquor licenses should bo abolished would be taken in Victoria in 1930. LONDON PAPER’S COMMENT. (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, Sept. 3., The Daily Telegraph in an editorial states: “The result of the Australian prohibition poll is a sign that the times are unfavourable to prohibition. It has proved a disastrous failure where tried in Europe. In the United States it is law without tho force of law. In Australia it has been more heavily defeated in tho States consulted than its advocates ever anticipated. “Apparently the Commonwealth will be spared tho exnerience of Canberra, which has proved, as in Canada and Now Zealand, that enforcement in provinces and districts is more farcical than nation-wide. “In the moantime drunkenness is visibly declining wherever there is a minimum of interference with privato habits. Upon this more than upon scheme sof regulation believers in true temperance found their hopes.” COMMENT ON FIGURES. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Aug. 3. Referring to the interim figures of the New South Wales liquor referendum, Mr Charles Todd, the president of the New Zealand Alliance, said that the result w'as expected. Compensation to the trade was the principal reason for the defeat, and again there had not been the same educational work in Australia as in New Zealand and America. ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW. WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. Mr Percy Coyle, official representative of the United Nqw Zealand Licensed Victuallers’ Association, on being interviewed, said that the result of the New South Wales referendum was very satisfactorya substantial majority against the “drys” had been anticipated. On being asked if he thought tho result ivould have any bearing on the forthcoming referendum in New Zealand, Mr Coyle stated that he certainly thought it would. Such a decisive majority proved conclusively that prohibition was not wanted in New South Wales, and it would. be outside the realm of practical politics to have continuance in New South Wales and prohibition in New Zealand. He believed that the general public of New Zealand, in the light of events in America and the rejection of prohibition in New South Wales, w'ould not hesitate to express themselves accordingly at -lie coming poll.