THE THREE-ISSUE POLL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17576, 18 March 1919, Page 4

THE THREE-ISSUE POLL.

The ballot-paper which will be placed in the hands of the electors at the licensing poll concurrent with the general election, in the event of the decision at the referendum next month being against national prohibition with compensation, is described by the vicechairman of the Duhedin Centre of the Efficiency League as " a trap." We take no exception whatever to the description. The objectionable and undemocratic form in which the issues will be put at that poll was, we believe, the subject of criticism by us before any objection to it was expressed by the prohibitionists or their temporary allies of the Efficiency League. It was not necessary, however, for the purposes of our article of Thursday last that we should explain that the voting at that poll would be complicated by the submission to. the electors of three issues. The question which we were then answering was whether it was true that, if the prohibitionists waited till the general election and then carried prohibition, the decision would become operative in one year and whether the country would thus save the £4,500,000 it would have to pay if prohibition should be carried next month. The answer which we gave to that question we now repeat:

Exactly a year separates the dates on wnich prohibition with compensation and prohibition without compensation are respectively attainable by the opponents of the-hcensino; system. From this it follows tnat if the prohibitionists . are strong enough to extinguish "the trade," they propose at the present time that the taxpayers shall pay the amount of compensation provided for , in the Licensing Act in order that prohibition may come into torce a year earlier than would otherwise be the case.

We then proceeded to Bhow—what the vice-chairman of the Dunedin Centre of the Efficiency League does not attempt to deny otherwise than by setting, up a curious contra-account embellished with some remarkable arithmetic—that the amount which the State would have to pay if prohibition should be carried next month would be not £4,500,000 only but would be this sum together with interest, amounting probably to £225,000 per annum, for every year of the currency of the Liquor Trade Compensation Loan.

The whole hypothesis upon which we discussed the question was that the prohibitionists were a majority of the electors. And if they are a majority of the electors it does not matter to them that the issue at the licensing poll towards the end of the year, provided that such a poll is held, is complicated'and undemocratic, fois, being in a majority, they can carry their point and secure prohibition without compensation. It is an amazing thing to us that the prohibitionists seem fearful lest, if they do not secure a majority next/month, they may lose for ever their chance of gaining their end. Evidently they attach a tremen-dous-amount of importance to the attractive power of the " bait" of compansation. Yet their leaders are under the compulsion, whenever they speak of it at, all—which is as rarely as possible, and then, in all probability, in terms that avoid the plain use of the hateful expression!—to apologise for themselves supporting compensation. For they have vehemently declared in" the past that there is not a shadow of legal or .moral justification for the payment of compensation. They 'still say so. The mere suggestion that prohibition should be secured on the basis of compensation was indignantly scouted by them during the whole history, qf their agitation until last year as preposterous, and outrageous. Compensation as a factor in the matter was described'by them as '"dead and buried." In reality it seemed to be. The publicans whose houses lost their licenses under the local polls received no compensation. If they had asked for it, they would have asked in vain. The "phantom" of the past has, however, been'"galvanised into life"—into a life so vigorous that the prohibitionists are clinging desperately to it under the impression, apparently, that the success of their cause is dependent, upon it. Why, otherwise, , should they be so seriously afraid lest their failure next month should involve them in the ruin of their hopes ? Really it is exceedingly difficult to appreciate the reasoning lay which they have—or some of them have —persuaded themselves, that a majority of votes is not attainable by them if the issue of prohibition without compensation is submitted to the electors, although they may secure a majority at a poll where the issue is prohibition with compensation. Moreover, their memories must be as short as their logic seems to -us to be defective. Otherwise they would not so .soon have forgotten that in 1911, when the issue of national prohibition was submitted to the electors for the first time, there was an absolute majority in favour of prohibition—of prohibition without compensation.

We return, then, to the point which we endeavoured to make clear last week, that, if the prohibitionists are in a majority in the .community—if, that is to say, they are numerous enough to carry either prohibition with compensation or prohibition without compensation—then it follows that the payment the State would have to make through a decision next month in favour of compensation would be a payment for compensation for one year only. This is necessarily the case, for prohibition wititaut compensation would become operative exactly twelve months after prohibition with compensation would come into effect. Moreover, if the Liquor Trade Compensition Loan should be raised at 5 per cent, with a currency of 25 years, it is plain that the total payment which the State would ( have to make for one year's prohibition would be not £4,500,000 only but over £10,000,000 V The vice-chairman of the

Dunedih Centre of the Efficiency League has presented us with some figures on the opposite side of the account, the most extraordinary of which consist of the calculation that "two million pounds a year of savings"—estimated by " business men of the highest standing in the dominion" to be the permanent annual gain that may be expected through prohibition—"accumulating at 5 per cent, would add 95 millions to the savings of this country in 25 years." Wβ should be more greatly impressed by' the result of this arithmetical effort if he'would explain to us why he is at the pains to extend,his calculation over a period of i» years. It would be for one year only, not for 25 years, that prohibition would be postponed if, there being a majority of electors in favour of it, they decided for prohibition without compensation instead of for prohibition with compensation.

The Minister of Defence stated yesterday (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that arrangements were being made by the- Imperial authorities for the issuo of the Empire "Medal, which is to be conferred in recognition of very special service rendered to the Empire during the war. There aro to be military and civilian divisions for the purpose of this medal, which will be awarded only for notable achievements. It is officially notified that the Athenic is a clean ship and is expected to be berthed at Wellington about 9 o'clock on Thursday morning. She has 738 troops (mostly 1914-15 men) and. 184 soldiers , wives. The Soldiers' Reception Committee has decided to give them a reception at Wellington. Special train arrangements will be made for-'the conveyance of the ' southern men to their homes. /* Notification has been received by the local Defence authorities that returning draft 232, comprising 44 officers, seven-nurses, and 1033 other ranke, is due to arrive- in New Zealand shortly by the steamer Willochra. Wellington will probably be iho first port of calL ■ ■

Somo discussion took place at the meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce last evening on the housing question. The president (Mr J. B. Waters) stated that a very great deal could be done to improve matters in this direction, and he added that one only had to see the houses in some of the back streets of Dunedin to realise that under present conditions the workers could never be satisfied or reasonably-contented. Several other members spoke briefly on similar lines, Sad it was evident that the chamber was of opinion that steps should be taken to bring about a remedy. A Press Association message from Wellington states that many of the old hutments at Trentham are being converted into hospital wards linked by corridors to accommodate about 700 soldiers, who will require orthopaedic treatment on their return to New Zealand. Vocational and occupational training will be an important feature. Apart, from structoiral alterations the chief new work being done is lavatory provision. All the- work, which, it is expected, will be completed by the middle of next month, is being done by the Army Ordnance Department. Military surgeons and other experts specially trained in orthopasdica are now arriving in New Zealand.

No fewer than four calk were received by the City Fire Brigade yesterday, the whole of. these being to bush fires, but no damage was done in any case. One of the calls was to the Town Belt behind London street, one to the hedge surrounding the Kaikorai Football Ground, another to Brown street, Mornington, and the last to th© Kaikorai Valley. Some of the North Dunedin Boy Scouts waited upon the Mayor yesterday morning, and handed him the sum of £8 10s 6d, which they had raised among themselves and by a small sale of produce they had collected. The money is to be expended in obtaining extra comforts for the soldiers in hospital. A meeting oi the Southern Starr-Bowkett Society was held tost night, when Mr S. S. Myers presided over a small attendance. ■l!he 109 th appropriation of £500 in group -No. 2 was disposed of by ballot, and' fell to cluster 18, the shares being held by two shareholders. The llOtii appropriation of £500 in the same group was sold at a premium of £8 Is per hundred. The third appropriation of £500 in group No. 3 was disposed of by ballot, and fell to ctostar No. 13, the shares being held by one shareholder.

On March 31, 1918, 568 patriotic societies throughout the dominion coming under the supervision .of the War Funds Oflico were forwarding the returns and particulars required under the "War Funds Act ,■ They were classed as , follows:—Societies or centres incorporated under the War Funds Act, with power to receive and disimburse funds, 27; unincorporated societies administering their own funds, 63; societies collecting and transmitting, but not administering, 478. A resident of the Taieri Plain called at this office yesterday morning" to complain oi an'extensive crop of Canadian thistles which,he said, were growing on the old Taieri racecourse, alongside the Silverstream. He added that during the high wind which prevailed on Sunday the seed from these thistles, was blown far and wide, and as portions of the surrounding land have been set aside for returned soldiers, he anticipated that they would have • considerable difficulty in eradicating the weed next season. The matter is one which seems to merit' the attention of the Agricultural Department.

Probably the limit of sheer impudence was recorded on Sunday night, while the motorists who had kindly turned out to carry the home-coming soldiers to their destinations were driving their cars up Stuart street. The throngs of people leftonly a narrow' passage, arid the cars, as a consequence, moved very slowly. As a valuable M4perva car went past a loutishlooking individual, he pulled a,match out of hi 3 agocket, drew it along the polished mudguard, and let a cigarette. A dkfacing mark was left on the car, and another car was similarly disfigured by another clever youth near fee same. spot. The fact that the cars could not pull up without dasorganising the procession behind saved these two youths from appearing in the Police Conrt on a charge of wilfully damaging property. . -

A Press Association message from Westport states that Mr H. Holland was unanimously selected by the Westport Labour Union as a candidate for the Buller seat at the general election.

A Press Association message from Christchurch states iihat a particularly severe north-west gale on Sunday afternoon played havoc with, orchards, in many cases the Jrees being stripped of fruit. Messrs * Macmfllan and Co., of London, announce a new text-book from the pen of Mr P. Goyen, late Oiief Inspector of bchcob in Otago, and author of "Higher Arithmetic and Elementary Mensuration," "Principles of English Composition," and other works. The new book is on mensuration, constructive plane geometry, and numerical trigonometry. The gullibility of business folk in cashing cheques carelessly was commented upon at the Wanganui Magistrate's Court last week Recently an elderly man toured the district front New Plymouth to Marton, armed with a cheque book and no credit at the banl' As a result of his tour, he has appeareu before the court on two occasions, when he was charged with obtaining money by means of valueless cßeques. In all, eight cheques were passed. In reply to the court accused stated that he never experienced the slightest difficulty in getting tradesmen to cash cheques. His Worship expressed the opinion that the gullibility ofthe public was extraordinary. "Here's a man," he said, "who goes from one end of Taranald to the other. Hβ is not known, but everybody trusts him and cashes his cheques as soon as they are presented." Detective Sergeant Hollis: He represented himself as a farmer at Patea. That would go a long way. His Worship: The most hardened crimina' could represent himself as a farmer from any part of New Zealand. People ore so gullible, they deserve to* lose their money giving credit like this.

At Palmersfcon on Sunday's, severe galo was experienced which must have played h-avoo with any ripe crop still unont. fortunately most of the farmers have finished cutting, the weather most of the time being very favourable ior harveatinc.

Describing a visit to tho fastnesses of the Urewera Country, the special commissioner of the Auckland Herald writes:—"At Maungapohatu the country opens out somewhat, and the scenery changes. Many hundreds of acres have beon put down in cocksfoot, and there is pasture, enough to carry largo herds of /cattle. Whatever Rua's.faults may have been and are, ho is certainly a captain of industry. Maungapohafcu is a model of neatness, and bc-sides tho big grass clearings, which are remarkably free from timber, there are extensive cultivations—fields of potatoes and other crops, all .in excellent order. The fences are exceptionally good, consisting of wire and split palings, being cattle-proof and pig-proof. The houses of the village look neat and clean; the narrow roads, or tracks, ore in excellent order, and well graded, and altogether tho village bears evidence of better management and more consistent attention than many a New Zealand township I have eeen. It is a picturesque placo. Tho grassed clearings slope up to wooded hills, and beyond tho hills rise the massivo heights of Maungapohatu mountain, ono of the most striking features of the Urewera Country, whose cliffs and crags roach considerably over 4000 ft above sea level. When. I looked on this placo and realised that this indeed was the last centre of Maoridom I confess I felt a strong sympathy with thoso Natives who wish to preserve* it forever against European acquisition."

In connection with tho attitude taken up by many of the svldier patients at the Christ-church Hospital in refusing to attend in their bkbe uniforms the. garden party arranged by tile Governor-General and Lady Liverpool, the following order has been issued by Lieutenant-colonel Wylie, officer commanding the men undergoing treatment:—"The officer commanding regrets that certain of the patients of the hospital saw fit on 'i'ueeday, March 11, to, so far forget themselves as soldiers and nien as to behave in a manner which can only be described as discourteous in the ex>treme, and wishes to point out that grievances, real or imaginary, can never be rectified by behaviour euch as they were guilty of. Conduct of this kind not only reflects on them, but on their comrades, as well as the hospital in which they arej and renders acceptance of an invitation on their behalf in future difficult, if not impossible." A further order regarding local leave states that on and after Friday, March 14, the hour at which patients must return to hospital is altered from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m. Later leave -will only be granted on special application and for special reasons. During the recent visit of tho Minister of Marine (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) to the West Coast, a deputation representing some 178 waterside workers waited on him with regard to wharf, matters. The deputation would not allow Mr H. Holland, M.P. for lirey, to introduce them to the Minister, but secured the services of the Mayor in that connection. Mr Holland was present and listened to the representations made, and at the conclusion could not contain hie resentment at the course taken to exclude him from exercising the customary duty of a parliamentary representative in regard to deputations. He complained that he had been overlooked, and stated that in future he intended to exercise his rights and introduce all deputations to Ministers, i'he fact that the 'president of the union, who had been re-eiected within the last few weeks, had lost a son at the front may have had some relation to the evident aversion to accept Mr Holland's introduction to the Minister.

Sir John Findlay, M.P. for Hawke's Bay, on being interviowed by a New Zealand Times representative with regard to a statement that he had decided to stand for Wellington North at the next general eleotion, stated.that all that he had decided up to the present was that he would not stand again for Hawke's Bay. "JB'or the rest," he said, "I have not decided yet •whether I will stand again or not; much less what seat I will stand for." Up to February 25 there had been 1135 applications for the return of soldiers in priority to their normal sequence. Of these 515 have been recommended for immediate return, 593 have been declined, and 27 have beon otherwise dealt with, by reoommending discharge in Great Britain, eta These particulars are exclusive of cases now in course of investigation in the hands of the District Commissioners.

A collision of carriages occurred at tho Rangiora Railway Station on Saturday jyst after the arrival of the 4.40 train from Chmtehurch (says the Lyttelton Times). Following the usual practice, four of the empty carriages on the front of the train were detached to be run on to a loop line. There were some trucks between the carnages and the engine, and when 'the train pulled up some distance along the line, the shunter uncoupled the carriages. The line having a down grade, the carriages which were not braked, commenced to run back on the main line. The shunter was at the hand brake, but apparently did not realise that the carriages were on the same line as the standing train containing the passengers. When travelling at a. fair speed they collided with the train at the platform, on front of the ticket office. Although the air brakes were on the stationary train the impact drove the carriages back half a chain. The passengers experienced a severe shaking, but no one suffered injury. The iron standards of the platforms and the buffers of the two carriages that came together were a good deal damaged, ■ and the empty carriages were derailed. The line was blocked for two hours, and some delay was caused to traffic.

A striking instance of the serious stage to which pillaging of overseas cargo has developed came to light in the goods shed at New Plymouth on Tuesday afternoon (reports the Herald). Four cases consigned to a Stratford drapery firm were opened for Customs examinations, and- it was found that the contents of three cases had been tampered with, and that articles to the retail value of between £60 and £70 were The cases bore fairly plain marks that they had been opened. The cargobreakers appear to be getting more bold in their methods. One of the recent losers remarked: "At one time pillaging was a work of art; now it is just thieving-." It ia stated that a number of similar cases of stealing have been discovered in consignments of goods arriving at New Plymouth •within the last month or two.. The drapers appear to bo the main losers'. - ' -- ' ''The improvement the development of young'adults in the military training camps is (known to all," said Dγ '■I.V H. A. Valintine, giving evidence before the Influenza Epidemic Commission at Wellington on Tuesday. "Less widely known, however," he added, "are the excellent results obtained in tho Cl' Camp, wherein men of military ago with remediable defects underwent a special period of physical training under expert officers.. Even among ; men of full adult age the changes wrought were striking—much more so would be the case if -adolescents were to receive- such training before tho 'defects became permanent. Such ills as malnutrition and poor physique generally; lateral curvature of the spine; weolSoess in certain groups of muscles; functional cardiac troubles, and many other conditions leading to a weakening in the bodily resistance- of disease could, if taken in time, be remedied to "a great extent. If, calling up for training, the youths of the dominion, such as exhibited these - defects, could be drafted for three months' training in a camp under special medical supervision, a large number of men who otherwise would be poorly equipped for the needs of civilian life or military service would be added to the effectives of the nation. The course of training ■ would take, the placo of military service." -

In responso to inquiries on Friday (says the Lyttelton limes) it was stated that the Postmaster-general was considering a proposal that transports should bo used ior bringing mails to Now Zealand. Som© of thom come through the Panama Canal, and' oouM bring mails eooner than the ■ mail contract steamers can. postal officers stated that transports aro used to eome extent; at present. The department advertises in the United Kingdom that each vessel will take correspondence specially addressed by it. The drawback to this arrangement is that the department receives only 24 hours , notice of the departure of a transport, and this sometimes is not sufficient to enable adequate advertising to bo done. rho same trouble is experienced in announcing that specially jjddrossod correspondence will be taken by a non-contract vessel leaving New Zealand. 'It is hoped, however, that the Postmaster-general will bo abfe to make better use of transports coming to the dominion jfer xnaal purposes.

disadv a j; itagea under which, officers of the Public Health Department have to work wore referred to by Dr Makgill in the course of evidence given yesterday before the Epidemio Commission. After he haa mentioned quite a nubiber of other drawbacks ho said: "Add to these drawbacks a paucity of leave and a rate of pay- lower than that m any public health service, and it will be understood why only those who have private means and a considerable surplus of professional enthusiasm remain in a department so penurious m ife treatment. There ,s, perhaps, an advantage derived from this state of things, and that is that the officers are so little enamoured of their positions that they can afford to bo independent in their attitude to the puMie-a condition of mind tending to honest administration,"

Two young men in Wanganui who have for some time taken a keen interest ia the development, of various types of aircraft, are now engaged in. constructing a monoplane of the "pusher" type. Th Q specifications were procured from America, but the whole of the work of construction is being carried out locally. . Tie spread of the plane is 13ft, the wing chord sft The total length of the machine is 16ft Oregon ,pine timber has been used throughoutin the construction of the frame, and, uivL 011 * til ° en P ne > tbo nradhine will weigh 180*. A twin-cylinder 12 horse-power engine, calculated to develop 1200 r.p.m., is to be the motive force. The propeller, which f°J "J o .*™* screw type, is sft in diameter («t pitch), end is constructed .of ash and Oregon pme laminated. If the present EriM a Jt PI r M a SUCCCBSI ifc * to build two larger n-ehines almost immedi-

Describing a visit to the Urewera Country the special comnrssioner of, the Auckland Herald writes s-'T*, one W UI deny that the wait of tno eastern Urewera Country is rugged and broken, and wild and beautiful but J. have no fear whatever but what our young men, who havo proved themselves roasters of the Gksrman and the Turk oan subdue it and tame it, and make it habitable and profitable; and what a gtrong wgorous race of men and women it wM produce.' There will be no crowding there farms will not bo a matter of a. few small fields, but o; miles of ridge and spur and deep ravme. Work there will mean long days m the saddle or on foot after stock; mustering wfll be an adventure, and stearic X «?** «**»*■ It will be no placo for the timid, who fear etorm and flood, but. to the strong and the courageous * will be a place to love and be proud of"