THE COLONIST. MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1919. FINALITY OF THE LICENSING POLL.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15040, 7 April 1919, Page 4

THE COLONIST. MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1919. FINALITY OF THE LICENSING POLL.

A subsidiary but extremely important question which has been discussed in Dunedin is that of the finality or otherwise of the special licensing poll which is to be held on the, 10th inst. The "Otago DaHy Tunes'*' has given some strong reasons for doubting whether a final decision may be expected, and its views have been attacked by representatives, of the two prinicpal organisations which are supporting national Prohibition. The point taken by our contemporary is that there is no guarantee that a decision, if there should be one, in favour this month may not subsequently be^revised, with the result that the - State would be mulcted in a payment for compensation to .the liquor trade without securing the proposed consideration for the payment. This possibility of a change is treated by a member of the Efficiency League as a phantom which could only be galvanised into life if the effort of a poll in favour of national Prohibtion should prove unsatisfactory. It is also contended by &ie "Times" that the poll this month will not provide a complete expression of the will of the people, as a number of members of the Expeditionary Force will •be disfranchised, as well as some sailors, and also the Maoris. - The question is asked, Is it conceivable, and would it be just, that a decision. by a majority of one vote in favour of Prohibition this month should stand in face of the fact that an uncertain number of electors, who have every right to express their judgment on the issue, will be unfairly prevented from voting? Then it is : argued that a vote has not the same ' value this-' month as it will have at the general election. While the Dominion votes as one constituency on the qluestion of national Prohibition, its votes at the general election will be distributed over seventy-six constituencies, exclusive of the four -constituencies of Native electors. And not only is the value of the vote affected by the

difference,between -the,,systems uiider; which the Prohibition, poll . and the Parliamentary poll are taken, but a'vote has not the' same value in^each toral district ,at the Parliamentary poll: A correspondent replies that,the mutability of human affairs is no reason for voting against reforms. The people who agree to buy out the liquor trade to-day will ndtj he says, make a present of the money to the trade to-morrow by restoration of licenses. And politicians may be trusted not to attempt to pass reactionary legislation without a popular mandate. If Prohibition is carried on April 10th, and the people want State ownership at any time after that, they can get it without any further payment except for stocks of liquor and fitting up bars. But, says Mr. Adams, the people do not, and will not, want State ownership. Another Prohibitionist complains that the plea to wait for the general election should be qualified by showing that this waiting would involve submitting to a three-issue poll, which is characterised by the Prohibitionists as a trap, a trick, and undemocratic. Economic reasons are advanced against waiting till the general election, as well as the argument that to relieve the general election of the turmoil and distraction of a referendum on the liquor question is very desirable. The Prohibitionists also emphasise the point that tho saving of one year's human wastage under liquor has to be considered. The "Times" will not yield ground, and remarks that if there are pronounced protests in a majority of the electorates against the imposition upon the country of Prohibition as the result of a poll at which a large number of electors will be improperly disfranchised, it is impossible to suppose that a majority of the members of Parliament will not support a proposal for the re-submission of the issue to the popular vote.