THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 46, 19 September 1918, Page 5

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

GENERAL ELECTION DEMANDED Per Press Association. Dunedin, September IS. The Hon. J. T. Paul, national president of the New Zealand Labour Party, states that the Labour Party has determined to ask the electors to pronounce against further delay regarding a general election which carried a poll on the licensing question. The national executive of the party is in serious disagreement, with the rival petitions on the licensing question now before the electors. It contends the petition asking "for prohibition with compensation is a limitation of democratic rights, as a considerable body of electors desire to vol,, on other issues. The second petition, asking'for a poll on thfje issues, is regarded as an interference with democratic rights, because it will present an expression of the people's will on this important question. The Labour Party demands the settle ricJit of the liquor question on democratic principles.

The party has decided to issue petitions, one demanding ;i general election early next year, and the otnor demanding a poll on the liquor question on four issue*. ;is follow: (•I) National Continuance. 12) Immediate National Prohibition, with compensation. <.T) Immediate National Prohibition without compensation. (4) National Ownership.

The party further demand that these issues be decided by preferential voting, using the single transferable vote.