AFTER THE BATTLE.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 286, 19 April 1919, Page 9

AFTER THE BATTLE.

The tight is over, the issue still imM'tthsl. The soldiers’ vote has provd the deciding factor. Si tnr re present figures show, the trade has secured i huge majority of the boys' votes. A Prohibition majority of over twelve thousand in this Dominion lias In en leJueed to a minority of 4000 by the soldiers’ voL*. More votes: arc* still to

come in, and whiehercr wins it will

only lie by a narrow majority. Apart from the soldierH* vote the figures mi lar reeorded for the Dominion are most interesting. Otago and 'southland secured a large majority for Prohibition; had other art* is |Milled as well, the issue would not In* in doub.. Dunedin gave a large vote against the trade, the only one of the four eities uhieli did so. Mt Eden and Port C’ludiners soiirnf the largest dry majorities, i aeh winning by a o-to-.H vote. Are we downhearted No! It beaien this time, we will rally for the next light. We make m coin promise with this infamous traffic. It is a fight to the finish. Next time we meet ill conflict there will lie no question of eompensatiou involved. Ill' present Act contains no time compensation, and hi never again will we have to do violence to our feelings by offering a m< ney eoni|H*nsa tion in lieu of a time eomjieiisat ion.

Next time there will l»e no soldo rs’ vote as such. Our Imy 5 will he at home and under home influences. We have tried to shield the boy a from t tie liquor traffi •, and it we fail it will ’*• bv their own vote. They have gym their allegiance to the trade, and how will they be repaidr 1 .\la>! We fear the trade will bring them ruin, disgro’c, disease, and death. If we have failed this time, we must organise at one* for the next battle; ultimate defeat is impossible. It matters not how deep entrench d the wrong; How hard the battle go<>.-, the day how long ; Faint not ; light on ; to-morrow comes the song Me strong! Be strong!” We mult slacken no effort. “In quietness and confidence shall he • nr strength.” Everyone must gird on the armour. “Get into the tight! Time wings ltr fl’ght. (Jet into the fight to-day! There is work to do, and the eall means you. Get into the tight to stay .”