NO-LICENSE AND PROHIBITION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1128, 23 November 1911, Page 20

NO-LICENSE AND PROHIBITION.

THE DANGER OF THE COMING

POLLS.

HOW THE LOCAL VOTE MAY FORCE THE DOMINION ISSUE.

Two men were arguing upon the liquor question the other morning. “Well,” said the first, “I don’t believe in Prohibition, and I intend to vote against it on the Dominion issue, but I’m hanged if I’ll vote for continuance in my own district. I can always get what liquor I want in the city, and, of course, we don’t really want the pubs out our way, so I shall vote, as I always have voted for No-license.” “Good boy,” said his companion, “but what will you do if they carry No-license in- the city?”

“Well, I didn’t think of that,” said the first; ‘that would be bather awkward wouldn’t it?”

“More than awkward,” was the response; “because., if the city pubs are closed by the No-license vote, you’ll soon find the country hotels closed also, and then, although you may have voted against National Prohibition, you will find, in effect, that you have helped to carry it.” “But how? I don’t quite follow you.”

“Well, it is this way. Unfortunately you are not the only individual who is voting No-license, and saying that National Prohibition will never be carried. And our Prohibition friends have, through their champion, Mr. A. S- Adams, so skilfully obscured the real issue by means of the second ballot paper, that very few people actually understand what voting No-License, and against National Prohibition entails. Put it this way. There are, say, 8000 electors in your district; 3000 of these support the N.o-license party on principle, land are prepared to vote for local Nolicense and Dominion Prohibition. There are, say, another 3000, who belong to the moderate section of the community, and rather more than half of these are ready to support local No-license, but would never kthirijk of voting for Prohibition. Say 6500 electors go to the poll and- record their votes. It only requires 3900 of these to constitute the three-fifths majority that would carry No-license. Now, think of the possibilities. The Prohibitionists as a result of their zeal and enthusiasm, are sure to poll a full vote; but, say, that only 2500 of their number go to the polling booths. That means that only 1400 moderate votes are required to turn the scale in favour of No-license. People like you who believe they can vote for local No-license, without affecting their right to purchase liouor outside their own district, may easily form the majority amongst the moderates, and in that case, it -requires no gre*at stretch of imagination to see the three-fifths majority secured ‘by their help.” “Yes, but how does that affect Dominion Prohibition if they vote prainst the National issue?”

“In this way. Given an alliance between the. 'Moderates and the Prohibitionists, 'all : through the country, local No-license could be . carried in every electorate —the possibilities indeed are that it would be. Yet,'. bn the Dominion issue, the vote might • the other way about. If every electorate voted No-license, every liquor seller in the Dominion would be compelled to put up his shutters on June 30, and sales of liquor everywhere in the Dominion would be made impossible. The local No-license vote would have defe'ated. the National vote against Prohibition.”

“But would it not be possible to obtain liquor from outside?” “Yes, but only under severe restrictions and limitations. Every man would have to import his own supplies, and, as he would only be able to do so in small quantities, the trouble and expense would be enormous, 'added to which the conditions that would be imposed would make the business so vexatious that very few people would go to the trouble, or expense, of importing liquor.” “But I suppose, while one licensed area remained and National Prqhibition was not carried, it would be pjossible for people to obtain supplies from that area.” “Possible, but scarcely probable, that they could do so with any satisfaction to themselves. To begin with, it would not be possible to increase the number of licenses in that area; the trade would consequently all concentrate in the hands of two or three people, who would charge what they liked, and supply only such liquors las they pleased.”

“Then you think the man who votes for local No-license ” “Is going far towards carrying National Prohibition. You may remember that, in the first instance, it was proposed to have only one ballot p'aper, and to make every vote cast for local No-license tell also in favour of National Prohibition. That was a logical proposition, and one that could be defended, on the ground of Its perfect consistency and fairness. But that proposal did not suit the Prohibitjionists. It would have set people thinking too seriously upon the (possible consequences of their vote- If you were asked to assent to the dual proposition that all district licenses be abolished, and that such vote should also count in Savour of prohibiting the manufacture, importation and sale of alcoholic liquors, right through thei Dominion, you might think differently on the question of voting local No-license.” “Most certainly I should do so.” “Very well then; remember that it is quite possible for you to bring about National Prohibition although you m'ay vote against it. You have only to record your vote, in favour of local No-license, and the thing is more than half done. The issues may appear to be distinct; but, in point of fact, they are one and the same. Every voter for No-license, helps to swell the total number of votes that will be recorded 'against the liquor traffic next month. If the Prohibitionists carry No-license in the cities, they will practically gain their point, because they will point to your vote, and that of thousands of ‘moderates’ : like yourself, who have voted Nolicense on former occasions, as proof positive that the sentiment of the country is with them. And if, s'ay, Auckland and the other centres voted No-license, as the Prohibitionists ’believe they will and the Waikato voted continuance, it would only be a question of time before every license would be wiped oult and the Prohibitionist regime inaugurated.” “I see. Thanks for putting the matter before me so clearly. I quite recognise the point, and I. can assure you I shall think very/ seriously be-fore-I’again strike oiit the. top line.” “Well, if you value your liberty and freedom of 'action, you will make it your business to strike out the bottom line every time.”