THE MANDATE OF THE PEOPLE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 990, 25 February 1909, Page 20

THE MANDATE OF THE PEOPLE

Much is being made of the fact that reduction was carried in Auckland City by what the No-license party term, the mandate of the people. This, in fact, is true. But the people do not forget that this reduction vote was carried by the fact that the majority who struck out the top line with the intention of carrying, if possible, nolicense, gave no thought to the reduction issue. And those who voted reduction straight out and who had evidently concluded that reduction, and reduction only, was desirable, were in so small a majority that their mandate is not worth discussing. The striking out of the top line only, giving as it does one vote to no-license and one to reduction, is a point which has never been considered by a great number of voters. While there be many who, for divers reasons, vote nolicense. many of these are not prepared to vote reduction, which, in effect, robs one man to put into the pc-kets of another. At the coming licer' ’ng committee election the people - ' vote will again rule, and it remains to be seen if a pledged wholehog committee meets with approval.