THE NO-LICENSE VICTORY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6678, 28 November 1908, Page 15

THE NO-LICENSE VICTORY

(To tho Editor of "N il. Times.") Sir,—The figures you publish thin morning of tue local option poll are instructive. In 1905 the' no-lieense party polled 198,768 votes out of 387,018 or 51.28 per cent. This year tney have polled 209,144 out of 410,197 or 50.74 per cent. Where is the victory? In face of these figures the talk about the defeat of tho trade is so much twaddle. For tho hint time in fifteen years no-licenso has not only made no piegrees, hut has actually receded, and though undeniably they have been lucky in securing thci threefifths by small margins in a few electorates the no-hceneo party have gamed no ground so far as the Dominion vote is concerned.—l am, etc., T. M. SMITH. [Our figures show, that whereas in 1896. 139,590 persons voted continuance, and 88,312 no-license; in 1908, 186,303 persons voted continuance and 209,14 4 i no-licenee. In Wellington this year tha no-lieense vote increased by 7 per cent., in Auckland 6 per cent., in Christchurch 7 per cent., and in Dunedin 6 per cent. Mr Smith's deductions arc no doubt correct in regard to the whole Dominion, but unfortunately the vote operates more tellingly in localities than over tha whole area. The figures published tlua morning demonstrate in a striking way the gradual upgrowth of prohibition sentiment. The extraordinary thing id that with tliis upgrowth’ there is no decline in the drinking habits of the people. While there has been an increnua of 22 per cent in tho numbers of people voting no-lieense there has been an increase of 33 per cent, in the national drink bill. The moral attitude of a community which polls for less liquor and consumes more is perfectly enigmatical, Ed. "N.Z.T."] b ,