THE LICENSING REFERENDUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17576, 18 March 1919, Page 3

THE LICENSING REFERENDUM

TO THE EUITOB. Sir, —In your article on the licensing poll, your explanation to an inquirer who asks about the effect of the poll at the general election if prohibition is not carried in April, is distinctly one-sided. It is also so misleading that I hope your hitherto well-known spirit of justice will allow the other side to bo given. Your article is so clever, too, that even prohibitionists may be led to vote against prohibition in April, thinking to get their object without compensation at the general election. You tell them that to pay £4,500,000 compensation just now is practically paying that sum for prohibition, for only one year, and that if they vote against prohibition' with compensation in April and wait for the general election, then "if the prohibitionists are numerous enough to gain their point this payment would be saved to the country through the postponement of prohibition , 12 . .months." When you say "if the prohibitionists are numerous enough" you do not explain ho\/ extra numerous they have to be, and how well nigh impossible it will be for prohibition to be carried at the general election. You speak earlier in the article of the injustice done to the community if prohibition is «arxied by a bare majority, but you do not toll that if 500 electors out of every 1000 vote for prohibionly five vote for hotels to continue as they are, these five get their way. Is thin justice? Instead of the n £4,500,000 , being compensation for only one year it is the means of giving the one "and only fair chance of having prohibition in New Zealand for the rest of our lives. # You say you are asked what guarantee {?.,.. ere tlla * a decision m favour of prohibition may not subsequently be reversed, and you reply: "Obviously there is no guarantee that there may not be a reversal of the decision" (though the Licensing Act provides that "no licensing poll shall at any time be taken after the carrying of prohibition with compensation"), for, you say, a different Parliament may alter the Act. Is this not rather straining a point? Do you really think that the majority of the electors in New Zealand, after having voted that £4,500,000 be paid to banish an I undesirable thing from their midst, would then elect men to Parliament who would agree that this money be thrown away, and the undesirable thing brought back? If that b your idea of the intelligence of your readers and the electors of New Zealand' your standard is not a high one. The electors have it in their power to return men to Parliament who will not throw *w»y £p0 000 of the' taxpayers' rncSey! Personally, I think that if prohibition is no liquor will, before many elections have etT ' * thinS Of ** P sls *-- 1 *£ Thnaru, March 15. E. L. E.

0 *?* told by && faddists that, if prohibition js carried, , the chemists vnfl - • Pi.at the Game. a n~5 n emfefa leg-ally stock alcohol fi l Then ' ++ ag ? in | lT i aTe demists no say in stooJv liquor? Some -would not do so under would bo to the detrhjjent of any of their S1K 9 rf rf alcoholk y s«LS' ! m tames of stress, as proved duriiur ' the S^ e ?- idemia Moreover, S" whd q A°i d , retain it for their daily clientele, as ttiey would have fee right to do.-I am, etc Dimedin, March 15. BTICE , U^l noticed a letter in your Msne of the nth host., in whibh endaavonrs to iwi»> c h of fte value of alcohol during the influenza epidemic Hβ refers to a cablegram -A m the pep«B aboat a fortnight or sTago. Letme teU htm that first-hand informatSn SS-J? *ne statement of one of the best doctors m the dominion who had' charge gMdenria here This stafement I 0 ™ kpS - ? fc was "*»»t for one £SS£ sa^ ed by *he use of spirits dxirmgr the endemic 50 died as a result of Hie previous use of it." The doctor is Dr of Hamilton, and lie are botfi keen supporters of the Efficiency Board's proposals S £*- m^. ]iie this the movement it is ridiculous for "Chris" to contirxue in ffie strain he does every WM ] C _ I am, eta, Vebax' Tatimiaruntri, Mezch. 14.

w f^ l -' ! T l 'L aSk / Ucl !- of SO"-readers who are m doubt as to whether they should vote prohibition or continuance to refer t. 5 c °l' mlM » - of Friday last, and note what the Arg-ns correspondent has to say !?7 «>nnection- : e.g.: "The sm-ead of the drag habit js in part due to the increased restrictions in the gale of beer wines, and spirits." Then .follows an ao-' count of orsries of opinm smoking, eto and °? 9°°™™ and other narcotics. Personally, I intend to vote for beer T am, etc., Vimn <3.at> Dunedin, March 17. 7 bAP '

The monthly meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children was held in the Council Chambers, Towji Hall, on Monday; present—the Rev. Canon Cnrzon-Siggers (in the chair), Mr Duncan Wright, Rev. Charles Dallaston, Dr Siedo: berg, Adjutant Baker, Staff Captain Park,. Miss Runciman, Mesdames Gordon. Jackson, Foster, Davey, and'A. Ansell, Hodson (secretary). The treasurer's statement was> tabled, and all accounts due were passed for payment. The president and committee wish to convey thanks to the Bristol Piano Company for its kindness at a great time of need. The secretary's report, showiri;,'that many difficult cases were being dealt with, was approved.