LABOUR PARTY AND THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14870, 19 September 1918, Page 7

LABOUR PARTY AND THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

ICnTCEO F'HESa ASSOOIATIOH.I

Dunedin, September 18

The Hon. J. T. Paul, national president of •the New Zealand Labour Party, lias determined to ask the electors to pronounce against any further delay regarding a general election, which carries a poll on the licensing question. The national executive of the party is in serious disagreement with .he rrvrii petitions 6n the licensing question now before the electors. It contenrls ».itnt the petition asking for pfokibitvm vit'i compensation is a limitation -if. democratic rights, as a considerable houy of electors desire to vote on other issues. The second petition, asking for v poll on three issues, is regarded as an interference with democratic rights, sicv cause it will prevent'an expre^srp 1 of the people's will on this impor'lnt question The Labour Party, rieira 1 J.s a settlement of the liquor qu-"jscio?i. ■ undemocratic principles. The party h:.p decided.to issue two petitions, one <ie iiiandiii^-. a general election- early rncxt year, and the other demanding a.-ppi! ..-.n. the liquor question, on four, t Miris-^— <\L) National, continuance, (2) immedifitfc national prohibition with .compensation, (3) immediate national, -prohibition without compensation, and (4) national ownership. The party further demands that these issues be decided t>.v preferential voting, using a single transferable vote.