The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1910.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10494, 30 June 1910, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1910.

The New Zealand Alliance Conference was the most sigThe Right Thing nificant in every reDone Wrong, spect that has ever been held in Australasia. It led to an understanding amongst the no-liquorites, who have been whipped into line by the more aggressive and talkative of the cult. It was resolved to demand that a Dominion prohibition, vote be taken .on the day of the next general election and. that drink be, expunged if so decided by a bare majority. This might prove the end of the licensing system. Already a-majority of votes have been polled on. the issue of ho-license, and if as many were recorded on the prohibition issue there would be a prompt Settlement of a question that has festered,: and contaminated the world's social and political interests for generations., And why should there not be such ; a settlement? The people desire it, for the best of all 'reasons, and the iAlliance leaders declare that their demand for a vote on universal abolishment is in accord with the popular will. We believe that it is. "The Trade's" tricks to render no-license a failure — the- brewers' and some merchants' determination to carry on their trade in spite of the people's 1 decree—has created a sense of disgust which might be trusted to secure abolition by a material majority of votes. If the public sentiment agamst drink is so strong the Alliance have no need to take the Legislature by the throat and insist upon the concession of a bare majority. It is bad policy to make such a demand when they know that it arouses all the indignation and venom of those who are either in "the Trade," or who are sympathetic with it for no other reason than that they have beer and that drink has a history which datds before the flood. It is marvellous that men who are so clever should seek to do such a right thing in such a wrong way. If they had appealed to the Legislature and the people to separate the issues of no-license and Dominion prohibitionf=Stf that the cumulative nolicense vote would be reckoned for Dominion prohibition, whilst, at the same time, if the larger issue failed, no-license should be effected in districts where a majority was polled in favor of it—if they had asked that both issues should be settled by a vote of 55 out of each 100—the majority proposed by the Alliance leaders who entered into the bargain with "the I Trade" —then they would have created

confidence and approval that would have been valuable aids in the prosecution of their divine crusade. We regret that the Conference adopted so dictatorial and uncompromising an attitude. It is imperative that something more should be done than the mere carrying of no-license in districts piecemeal, so that brewers may -reap such a harvest and drink-sellers may, by all the dodges known to die cunning and unscrupulous, ply their trade without the expense of licenses. and without let or hindrance. The curse of the locker and the beer depot must be removed, as well as the bottle license, and the Conference was right in demanding, however emphatically, their immediate abolition. How these evasions have been allowed to exist so long in defiance of a strong public abhorrence of them is indicative of the fatuous grip that drink has acquired on all classes. We cannot understand why the demand should have been for "one poll only at the next election, leaving future polls' to be made a subject of further legislation, if desired." This arrangement would still keep the most feverish of our reforms- in the arena of politics to the detriment of other - great questions. If it be just that the people . should vote on Dominion prohibition at one election, logically they should vote at every election on that issue. However, though we are convinced that it is not wise to attempt to dragoon the Legislature and the public as though they were the enemies instead of the friends of liquor reform, we trust that the popular interest in the greatest human cause will not he. alienated by a mere mistake in policy, due, shall wo say, to a misconception of human character and the fitness of things.