THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1918. THE LIQUOR ISSUE PETITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16936, 23 August 1918, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1918. THE LIQUOR ISSUE PETITIONS.

The movement for the abolition of the licensed trade in alcoholic liquor in New Zealand has been before the country for many years and has been supported by. a large and responsible body of electors. Though a satisfactory solution of the question has not been reached many reforms have been, effected during the . past quarter of a century, and restrictive legislation has contributed to greater temperance. : But .such measures as the curtailment of trading hours, the prohibition of " treating" and other, regulations brought into operation during the past four years have not determined the main issue. Against the liquor trade the indictment is still maintained that it contributes to crime, sorrow, waste and inefficiency.' And the war having compelled every nation to seek the removal of all causes which handicap its efforts, it would be surprising if the people of the Dominion '■ had not again carefully 'examined the case • against the -liquor trade. Whether the number who believe that it is inimical to national welfare has ; materially increased* since 1914 can only ■■} be determined by a poll upon the issue. \ Opinion upon the subject cannot be indifferent to the example ;.: of other countries,- and those who advocate ..absolute prohibition as a desirable and useful reform have certainly been encouraged to pursue v their campaign by the almost complete abolition 'of the liquor traffic in Canada/ the progressive extension of, prohibition throughout the United States, and the ' drastic ■/•; restrictive measures which ,have -been- enforced in- the United' Kingdom. ' " , ! , T

'A • novel plan for dealing with thi question in the Dominion ,was pro posed a year ago by the Nationa Efficiency Board. .It recommendec that another.poll on the question ol national prohibition should be taken, and disregarding the 'statu tory basis for such a referendum, ad vised the Government that if .the electors gave their sanction prohi bition should be immediately ..enforced and reasonable compensation paid". to ; the interests affected. ~;Al the time, the public was inclined tc dismiss this suggestion as visionary, but mature reflection has led • manj people to.' the conclusion that the electors should at any rate be given an opportunity to V vote *< upon -; the proposal. A special referendum is now .• being advocated with ' a view to ascertaining whether ~ the \ people are prepared to accept national prohibition at a considerable direct cost to the country, and large numbers ol people 1 are signing a petition tc Parliament asking that a poll should be taken in November or December of this year. 4 A second petition' has been offered for signature- suggesting / that •';' a \. new.,: issue, • national ownership or State control, should be submitted to the electors. v There is clearly a certain amounts of confusion and misunderstanding about the latter petition. The purpose of the New Zealand Alliance is to obtain a vote of the people upon the simple issue of-continuance or prohibition at the earliest possible' opportunity. I The proposals emanating from the National Council, which represents all branches of the licensed trade, do i not contemplate a special poll. This ! body \ has asked that the three issues of continuance, prohibition and national ownership should be submitted to the people at the next general election.'' .;'-';' In •", the ordinary course, Parliament will not be 1 dissohed ; this r year, , so that the revised ballot paper proposed by the licensed trade • would not be placed before the electors until next year, and after the decision had been given ' a/ the special poll for which the New Zealand Alliance is asking. A careful examination of the two petitions and of the resolutions by the recent . meeting of the National Council shows that the - apparent conflict between the .two petitions does not exist. The position is, therefore, greatly simplified. Parliament 1 might quite .consistently; give effect to both petitions. One seeks a positive decision on the clear issue of " liquor or ] no liquor"; the other anticipates : ; that , the demand }. for reform . would ; not ■ be satisfied- by;. the rejection, , however decisively, ■ of complete prohibition. / Both, proposals involve a complete review of the existing legislation.. It is suggested ; that 'the local option; issue should ;' be abolished, and there is certainly a growing body of ; opinion which regards the partial enforcement of prohibition;;as; unsatisfactory, and favours' dealing with the question only on the national basis. Provision for compensation to; the licensed trade also requires : additional /. safeguards. against ;;future developments.. /As the la stands, a proposal for ] national : restoration must be; submitted :'. at j the.; general election following three years' operation ;of prohibition". •: But it;is proposed to pay compensation to the licensed I trade ;| for/ the loss J of its trading rights on a permanent basis,

and it would clearly be impossible to restore those .rights to private ownership. ~ Thus \ the introduction of " prohibition with compensation'? presumes the possibility of manufacture arid sale by the State the purchaser of the right to trade in alcoholic liquor. - If prohibition were carried at the proposed special referendum there need be no further poll on the question until the issue of ; national restoration ;is raised upon a modified basis. ■ But if the electors reject the proposal in November or December, their decision will not : attain that " definite solution" which is being sought, and the alternative of national ownership might then be offered to them at the poll: suggested by the licensed trade interests.. New issues have been raised on this difficult and complex '* question, and there is an earnest demand that • the. people should be given an opportunity of expressing their opinions upon them. No doubt many electors believe the country is not prepared to exercise its veto against the liquor trade, and many will reserve their judgment until a definite- scheme has been formulated by Parliament, but there is even more positive sympathy with those who now desire to ascertain the will of' the people. Circumstances outside the control of the Dominion prevented such a test of public opinion last year, and even those who are opposed to the. proposal will recognise the justice of taking a special poll as early as possible upon the single issue of pro-| hibition with compensation. The question is an important one, demanding serious consideration by the elector and from Parliament the framing of careful legislation that will ensure effective and permanent interpretation of the people's decision. \ ...