LICENSING POLL

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 221, 19 August 1931, Page 2

LICENSING POLL

PROVISION FOR POSTPONEMENT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 18. In a statement in the House of Representatives to-day, the Prime Minister said that within the last few days the Government had received an official communication from the New Zealand Alliance, forwarding a resolution adopted by its standing committee: —That if the Government, considering it in the best interests of the country, proposed to postpone the licensing poll, no opposition would bo offered to tho proposal as regards the poll due this year, provided the principle of the triennial poll were left untouched. Official intimation had also been received to the effect that the National Council of the Licensed Trade would also accept tho postponement of this year’s licensing poll. In these circumstances the Government, after mature consideration, had decided to introduce legislation during the present session of Parliament to provide for the postponement of the licensing poll which in the ordinary course would have taken place concurrently with the general election this year. Mr Forbes added: In arriving at this decision I may say the Gqvernment has been impressed with the economy that would be effected as the result of avoiding not only the expense to the country in postponing the poll, but also the very costly campaign which is always attendant upon the licensing election. I feel strongly, and my colleagues also share this feeling, that the many serious national problems which face the country at the present time demand the most earnest attention of all parties in tho community, and it is only by a united effort on the part of our people that we can hope to expedite the recovery of the Dominion to a condition of normal prosperity. “There is no gainsaying the fact that the licensing issues do tend to cloud what may be regarded as wider political questions, and we feel it is essential that a spirit of amity should pervade our citizens at this admittedly difficult period in the Dominion’s affairs. It is for this reason that the Government welcomes the action taken by the two parties chiefly concerned in the licensing question, and we feel that, the proposal will be endorsed by the majority of the electors of the Dominion. “The fact that a truce has been practically arranged in connection with the licensing issue is to my mind a clear indication that men who are in responsible positions realise that nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of the utmost co-operation and goodwill on the part of all sections of our citizens at present. I need hardly add that the decision to postpone this year’s licensing election will not in any way interfere with the principle of the triennial poll.” INVERCARGILL’S POSITION. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Aug. 18. The secretary of the Local Restoration League states that that body will leave no stone unturned to have the local option poll taken, irrespective of action on the major issue. The league claims that 9000 electors out of a possible 13,000 favoured restoration at the last poll, and failed to secure the three-fifths majority by less than 500 votes. It claims that since then a large swing over has taken place.