LABOR AND POLITICS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14713, 19 September 1918, Page 2

LABOR AND POLITICS.

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. The Hon. J. TV Paul, national president of the New Zealand Labor Party, .states that the party has determined to i ask the electors .to pronounce against ; further delay regarding a general election, which carries a poll on the licensing question. The. national executive of the jiarty is m serous disagreement with reference -to the, rival -petitions 'on- the licensing queston now' before* the electors. . It contends, that the petiton asking for prohibition with compensation is a limitation of damocratc rights as a considerable body of the- electors .desire to vote, .on other issues. The second petition asfemg. for a. poll on three issues is regarded as an inter.fere.nc,e "witty demo : cratic rights, becanso it . will,, prevent' an expression of "the;, peojile's'.will on" this important, question. The Labor party. demands a settlement of the liquor ques^ tion on democratic principles. The party has decided to issuei t«'o petitions — one rdomanding a general eloctiojt early next year and 1 , the. other demanding a poll on the liquor question on four issues: (1), National 'continuance ; (2) immediate national prohibition -with compensation ; (3) immediate national prohibition without compensation ; (4) National ownership. 'The party further demand that these issues be decided by preferential voting, using tho single transferable vote. : ... .