The Licensed Victuallers

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 526, 23 August 1900, Page 18

The Licensed Victuallers

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The Spobting Review and Licensed icWADLEBs’ Gazette has been appointed the Official Organ of the Trade,

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THREE OR NINE YEARS.

Whatever other amendments of the Licensing Act may be brought into force during the present session, none would be hailed with

greater satisfaction by the Trade and public generally, than an amendment that would abolish the present triennial licensing election, and substitute the taking of the local or national option once in nine years. From remarks made by the leaders of our enemies it would appear that the more actively .hostile of these members are against the suggested alteration. This hostility, however, is now so usual when any question, which has the appearance of being of benefit to the Trade, arises, that it can be taken as meaning nothing against the actualities of the proposed amendment. The fact that the option poll is taken every three years, and on the same day as the election of members for the House of Representatives, tends to supersede all other important questions, and carrries no weight with them. There is only one important question in the world with a teetotal fanatic, and that is he must endeavour, by fair means or foul, to force his views of life upon his neighbour. Electors who have experienced the last two electoral campaigns know full well, that, from the time each party begins to work in anticipation of the elections, up to the hour when votes are recorded, such prominence is given to the “ strike out the top line ” rubbish, that every other question of political significance is quite o’er shadowed. Every three years the Trade are forced into a bitter fight, an expensive battle has to be conducted to maintain the right to be free and live. Voters have such an abundance of argument forced upon them by each party that tney

soon come to the conclusion that it is no political election at all. The election is nothing more than a struggle between two parties, the one of which seeks to take away from the other its property and means of existence. Our enemies on these occasions leave no stone unturned to further their designs, truth is no longer known to them, distortion of facts is their daily menu, while the ramming and jamming of their sickening untruths down every elector’s throat, is, for them, pleasant recreation. The question of prohibition or freedom has now become such an important factor at our general elections, that it is next to impossible for any elector to forecast the results of the poll. Each candidate has to declare himself more or less openly as being on one side or the other. Instances may sometimes arise where a successful candidate has secured the coveted honour without pledging himself to either party, but this has to be accomplished by such clever finesse, which will lead each faction into the belief that they have secured him. It is a regrettable fact, that, though we have many citizens of undoubted integrity and repute,and in every way fitted to help in guiding the destinies of our young and prosperous colony, they absolutely decline to enter the political arena, for the reason that the option poll has now been forced into such prominence that every other question of welfare of country or people is subordinated. I emperance conventions have now definitely announced that this question is to form the principal plank at the next election. Why the opposite party should object to the extension of time has not yet been made clear (beyond, of course, their avowed enmity). Naturally, demagogues and others who are making a living by keeping the agitation going, will object to the proposed amendment, they would, no doubt, like to see the poll taken every twelve months. Possibly, they fear that after an experience of nine year’s of peace and quietness, electors, finding at last an opportunity of studying the policy of candidates, may shelve prohibition and its followers for ever and ever.