THE 1911 LICENSING POLLS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1144, 14 March 1912, Page 20

THE 1911 LICENSING POLLS.

AN INSTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS. LESSONS TAUGHT BY THE OFFICIAL RECORDS. The facts laid before the gathering of Licensed Victuallers that assembled at Auckland last week, to do honour to the President of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers’ Association (Mr J. S. Palmer), have an especial significance, not merely foi’ the members of the licensed trade in New Zealand, but also for that very large section of the general public, . whose rights and liberties are imperilled by the formidable Prohibition vote, that was recorded at the 1911 licensing polls. In the exhaustive analysis of the local No-license and National Prohibition results, presented by 'Mr Palmer on the occasion referred to, some very disquieting circumstances have to be noted. In the first place, the local No-license and National Prohibition votes are strongest in the North Island, where No*license is least known, and weakest in the South Island, where No-license has taken deeper root, and where its results have been more thoroughly tested. Another anomaly is found in the contradictory No-license and National Prohibition results, and it is as well to again remind “Gazette” readers before proceeding to discuss the wider issue, that, for the first time for some years, an actual majority of the valid votes polled on the Local Option issue, was recorded in favour of Continuance. That vote, which in 1908 constituted only 45.41 per cent, of the total of valid votes polled, rose to 50.25 per cent in 1911. On the other hand, the No-license vote declined from 53.43 per cent, to 49.75 per cent. The contradictory character of the National Prohibition vote is apparent in the fact that only 44.17 per cent. of the valid votes were cast against Prohibition, whereas 55.83 per cent, were recorded in favour of that principle. And it must be conceded that this “Yes-No” attitude on the part of the electors is as embarrassing to those who are interested in Continuance, as it is to their Prohibitionist opponents. % % A QUESTION FOR THE PUBLIC. Mr Palmer has very truly said that the question involved in the wider issue submitted at the National Option polls is no longer ’one between the Trade and its opponents, but between the public and the extremists. The latter, by their votes and influence, are seeking to make indulgence in certain lawful and perfectly legitimate appetites impossible. They propose to coerce, by means of the bare majority, if possible (and failing that by means of a 55 per cent., or in the further alternative, a three-fifths vote), those of their fellows,' who neither see, nor admit the necessity for the drastic step they contemplate . forcing the country to take, in absolutely prohibiting the importation, sale or manufacture of alcoholic beverages. That being the case, the people whose liberty of action is thus

challenged, and who are in a fair way of having this indignity put upon them, ought to take a very keen interest in a matter that concerns them so nearly and so intimately. And it is for these people (and more especially for those of their number who have been in the habit of voting No-ITcense), to consider how they can best help to combat a vote that is admittedly going against them. There are, it is true, signs of an awakening. Men and women are coming to realise the. serious nature of the position. But that realisation is still only partial, and evidence is not wanting that there are. those who voted No-License and even National Prohibition at the recent polls, secure in the belief that Prohibition could never be carried in this country. Others who had been in the habit of voting No-License certainly changed theii’ tactics at the 1911 polls, otherwise the Continuance vote would not have gone up as it did, nor would the No-License vote have receded by over 4 per cent, in the North Island electorates, and by nearly the same percentage in the South Island. But the gain in both cases is out-balanced by the National Prohibition vote, which is actually 13.90 per cent, greater than the Continuance vote in the case of the North Island electorates, and 8.86 per cent, in advance of the South Island Continuance vote, while the votes for the whole of the Dominion show a difference of 11.66 per cent, between the Continuance and the National Prohibition vote, the majority being, of course, in favour of the latter. The figures are so significant that they will bear repetition. Thus: — PERCENTAGE OF VALID VOTES RECORDED. NATIONAL PROHIBITION’ VOTE. Dift', in favour of Against For Prohib. North Island (3S Districts) 43.05 56.95 13.90 South Island (30 Districts) 45.57 54.43 5.86 New Zealand (68 Districts) 44.17 55.83 11.66 Eliminating the twelve No-License areas, the result of the National Pro- . hibition vote is certainly more, fav ourable to Continuance, but the best that can be said is that, even in the 56 License areas, the total Prohibition vote averaged 55 per cent, of the valid votes. * * * IN THE NO-LICENSE AREAS.

The voting in the No-License areas was curiously inconsistent, especially so in the South Island electorates. In 19(08 the (Restoration vote in the twelve districts only amounted to 39 per cent, of the valid votes, whereas the No->License vote was 61 per cent. The 1911 polls witnessed an increase of 5 per cent, in the Restoration vote and a corresponding decrease in the No-License vote, the former rising to -.44. per cent, and the latter falling to 56 per cent. The Prohibition vote in the twelve districts also fell below the ■No-License standard of 1908, 42 per cent, of the votes being cast against Prohibition and 58 per cent. for. Grey Lynn, with 71 per cent, for and 29 per cent, against, put up the best record for Prohibition, and was closely followed by Eden, with 68 per cent, for and 32 per cent, against. In the case of Eden the No-License vote was in advance of the 1908 poll, rising from 63 per cent, in that yeai’ to 69 per cent, in 1911. Grey Lynn, however, went back a point, falling from 71 to 70 per cent. Ohinemuri slumped badly, and failed to maintain its three-fifths majority, although putting up a 55 per cent, vote for National Prohibition. But, whereas' in 1908 it carried No-License by 61 per cent., it failed to record a majority in favour of the principle last year, the NoLicense vote falling 12 per cent, to 49 per cent, of the total of valid votes. Masterton was in similar case, its 61 per cent. No-License vote in 1908 falling to 49 per cent, in 1911. On the National Prohibition issue the Masterton vote wprked out at 48 per cent, against and 52 per cent. for. Wellington South and Wellington Suburbs both showed a decline in their ‘NoLicense vote. In each instance the

1908 majorities were equal to 63 per cent, of the valid votes polled; on the National Prohibition issue Wellington South gave a 40 per cent, vote against and a 60 per cent, vote for Prohibition. Wellington Suburbs contented itself with a 42 per cent, vote against and a 58 per cent, vote for National Prohibition. * * * THE SLUMP IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. In the South Island electorates under No-License there was a palpable slump. Ashburton, “the model borough,” put up a 54 per cent, vote in favour of Restoration, and on the National Prohibition issue polled 52 per cent, against and 48 per cent, for that principle. Oamaru, which in 1908 cast a 59 pei’ cent, vote in favour of No-License, could only secure 53 per cent, in favour of the restrictive policy in 1911, its National Prohibition vote being 55 per cent, of the total number of valid votes polled. On the No-License issue the Bruce vote in favour of Restoration rose from 38 to 43 per cent., the Clutha vote from 35 to 43 per cent., the Mataura vote from 44 to 46 per. cent., and the Invercargill vote from 44 to 46 per cent., the No-License majority in each case being correspondingly reduced. The Prohibition vote secured majorities of 56 per cent, in the case of Bruce, 58 per cent, in the case of Clutha, and 55 per cent, in the case of Mataura and Invercargill. It is interesting to here notice that thirteen North Island and two - South Island ' license areas gave a stronger Prohibition vote than these four No-License districts, while the Prohibition vote in Ashburton was actually the lowest recorded by any electorate in the Dominion. If these figures can be taken to prove anything at all they show an unmistakable weakening in the No-License and Prohibitionist movement, in the centres where the former principle has been longest in operation, and where its effects are best known. And that very weaken ing should act as a warning and a deterrent to other electorates that .may feel inclined to put their necks into the No-License noose. It should further set the electors of this country thinking ,very seriously- before they commit themselves to an experimental policy which is built largely upon deception, -and which in practice fails to achieve the results claimed for it. On a future occasion it may be convenient to review the results achieved in the areas under license. But, in closing, it is as well to again; emphasise ttys need for careful and intelligent inquiry into the feelings and wishes of the public so far as the Trade is concerned. We do not accept the view that a majority of the public desire to bring about its extinction. But, on the other hand, there is, we believe, a widespread and very general feeling that reforms are essential to its continued existence. The fact is recognised by members of the several L.V. Associations themselves, and the gentleman who has, with his all-compelling figures, called attention to the curious position occupied by the Trade, and the apparently contradictory attitude adopted by the public towards it, has suggested a' procedure that ought to commend itself to every licensee in the Dominion, as it must certainly do to the great body of the general public. Let there be a full, thorough, and impartial inquiry into the business, by means of a Royal Commission, that would exhaustively investigate the methods and procedure governing the conduct of the Trade in all its branches, and the relationships existing between licensees and the general public. If reforms are to be brought about, and they are to be successful, they can only come as the result of a thorough overhaul of a system that is apparently breaking down because of the dissatisfaction that is felt with the existing methods.

W. A. Healy, a hop beer manufacturer at Waihi, was fined, £l5 and costs for carrying on the business of brewer without a brewer’s license.