THE TREND OF PROHIBITION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 994, 25 March 1909, Page 21

THE TREND OF PROHIBITION.

The “ Lyttelton Times,” in the course of an article on the latest issue of prohibition statistics, says: — The figures for the prohibition districts that have had any experience of no-license are not altogether encouraging to our prohibition friends. Clutha, of course, has remained firm in its first decision, and Grey Lynn, after voting no-license by 63.35 per cent., has confirmed it by 71.23 per cent., but most of the other “ dry’’ districts have betrayed some slackening in their zeal- Ashburton voted no-license by 62.05 per cent, in 1902, but polled only 47.90 per cent, for non-restoration in 1905 and about 4 6.07 per cent, in 1908. Oamaru’s objection to the public bars declined from 63 per cent, in 1905 to 59.20 per cent. ,n 19 08, and Invercargill’s from 61.67 per cent, to 55-99 per cent. Mataura voted no-license by 60.91 per cent, in 1902 and non-res-toration by 59.38 per cent, in 1905 and by 5 6.04 per cent in 1908. Bruce has been more constant. After voting no-license by 61.30 in 1902 it voted non-restoration by 59.87 per cent- in 190 5 and confirmed non-restoration by 61.01 in 1908. These figures seem to suggest that when no-license is put on its trial it loses friends for a time and creates a more or less insistent demand for the re-opening of the bars. In Ashburton the change of feeling is so remarkable that it can be explained only by some special circumstances. The majority of the electors, however, are still expressing their confidence in the experiment, and even if the no-license figures should grow ia the future no faster than they grew between 1905 and I'9oB by" the local option poll of 1914 we shall be standing on the very verge of Dominion prohibition. The electors should consider very seriously during the next two years whether this is the goal they wish to reach.