STOP! LOOK OUT FOR THE BOGEY!

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 285, 18 March 1919, Page 11

STOP! LOOK OUT FOR THE BOGEY!

(To the Editor.) Madam, As the fateful April loth draws near, 1 am impelled to add my voice to the many that are sounding a warning all over this Dominion. Everywhere we hear it being said that this is the grandest opportunity we have ever had of voting our be-

loved country “dry.” VVc have a simple issue, unconfused and direct, we win or lose b> a bare majority, we have support from thousands who have never before taken a keen interest in the matter, we are not hampered, as in the past, by the necessity of trying to make is do the work of *s, and of cutting out all expenditure that is not absolutely essential. And \et we tremble lest the nth of next

month may set* us still held last within the tentacles of the Drink Octopus. And why? Because of the apathy from which it is *o difficult to arouse many whose argument is: “It doesn’t affect me one way or the othgr. I’m not going to bother’’; or because of the neglect of many others, wellmeaning enough, but not deeply convinced that on them icsts the re*ponsi flLht\ of freeing the land from evil, therefore easil\ put off from do flkig their duty a> electors by considerations of tin ir own personal convenience; or because of the mistaken notion that if the present poll is in favour of the Trade, there will he a better chance before long of striking another blow, without the “compensation” clause, that is a stumbling block to so many staunch Temperance partisans. That this last is a serious menace is shown by such facts as the following: A friend of mine recently visited a house in thV* country where there were eight votes, all of which have always been cast for Prohibition hitherto, but on this occasion nom of the household intended to vote because “they did not like compensation.” After hearing the explanation and arguments of my friend they were convinced that their attitude was wron« r . and gave their decision to vote for Prohibition as in the past. To all who may feel similarly inclined to refrain from exercising their vote, 1 would sav. Do not fall into the* error of supposing that you will he able in a few months to vote out tlu* Trade without compensation. If this poll fails, it will be years before drink is banished, for it will he years before so favourable an opportunity offers itself for 'securing a majority against it. And what B thicompensation that is so strongly objected to? The real truth of the matter is that the bated compensation was given years ago when that clause was inserted in the l icensing Bill making Prohibition, if carried, inoperative for over four years. The present proposal of the Ktticiency Board is practically commuting the time compensation for a money payment; it is pa\ing 4! million*'. or less, for the purpose of securing immediate Prohibition. Will anyone seriously maintain that it is not worth paying that sum to save the country the misery and degradation lesulting from four years more of the* drink curse? Nay. rather, it is a good business proposition ! Think of all the bright bovs, the piomising young men who will fall victims to the temptations of the open bar during

that time; think of the unhappy, poverty-stricken homes, the ruined manhood, the impaired efficiency of the nation, to say nothing of the millions that will have to be spent in dealing with the crime and poverty produced by the Liquor 1 rathe. Men ai d women, no matter what your feeling has been against compensating a Trade that works such untold harm, take a broader view of this present aspect of the question, and let nothing prevent you from casting your vote for Liberty on the loth of April! Do not risk the bitter regiet that will assuredly be yours if you let the golden opportunity slip, and fail to record the vote that will help to make New Zealand free from this curse of the Drink Traffic. I am, etc., KATE M. EVANS. k>, lliropi Street, Wellington, March 12th.