The White Ribbon. "For God, and Home, and Humanity." WELLINGTON, NOVEMBER 18, 1938. LICENSING POLL.

White Ribbon, Volume 44, Issue 517, 18 November 1938, Page 4

The White Ribbon. "For God, and Home, and Humanity." WELLINGTON, NOVEMBER 18, 1938. LICENSING POLL.

The Lire using' Foil once more has been held and though there is nothing in it to cause exultant rejoicing there is much to give cause for thankfulness. The figures distinctly show that the pendulum is swinging against the trade. (Continuance secured 501,420 votes which is 1 !*,717 votes less than was recorded at last Poll in 1935. With a drop of nearly 20,000 in their vote the Liquor Trade cannot rejoice in a victory. The vote for National Prohibition was 211,183, a gain of 1098 over the 1935 Poll. Not a victory but a distinct indication of victory to come. State Purchase and Control got 91.205, a gain of 36,706 over their vote in 1935. Tiuly this is illuminating, 91,205 people are dissatisfied with the Liquor Trade md have cast their vote against it. Did they salve their conscience by going half way and voting "We don’t want the Liquor Trade, hut we do want Liquor." l>i<l they imagine State Control would lx- an improvement on the present system. A W.C.T.U. officer said to us “I do hope we don't get State Control. I lived for years in Canada under State (Control and it is much worse than our licensed liquor Trade.” An Australian told of a man who took mum gership of a State Hotel. His minister remonstrated with him upon going into such a business. He replied “My wife and I believe we can run »n cent premises and we art- going to keep to the law strictly.” They k*-pt such a respectable hotel that at the end of 3 months they were dismissed »-e----euuse the trade had decreased so much. Just so. To satisfy either brewers or State (it really doesn't matter which owns the hotel) the manager must .-ell beer and yet more beer, must increase trade, must secure young men and women to take the place of those who pass on. Whoever sells alcohol sells a bodydiseasing. mind heelouding, soul destroying poison. The W.C.T.C. believes that the only remedy is Abolition of a Trade which p fuses to be regulated and has never obeyed any law, human or divine.

We have enlisted till death or victory, and victory is nearer than many think. No sane person doubts th*» evils of the trade, but many consider them necessary evils. There we disagree lecause we do not believe in necessary evils in a world which God has made. “Thy Kingdom (Come.." “Thy Will he done on earth as in heaven." r ! housands daily pray this prayer. '>o they expect Go-1 to answer it? If they vote for Liquor Trade it lias no place in God’s Kingdom and must go before that Kingdom can lie established on earth. We are 1 elieving and expecting an outpouring of spiritual powei which will sweep away these evils.

VO LICENSE AREAS. We have great cause for thanksgiving in that all 12 ureas remain *d dr> and that 7 out of the 12 areas recorded a majority vote against Restoration. Rut the comparison lietween the vote for local prohibition and that for nation al prohibition causes one furiously to think. These 12 areas gave 74,061 for local no license, but only 17,457 for the National issue, i.e. is 26,60 1 more for local than for national prohibition. When a good cause is defeated the only question its supporters need ask is: “When do we fight again?" We are already preparing for the next fight for they never fail who dare to try again. And glancing back over the many reforms won during the centuries long progress we agree with the poet who said: “For freedom’s liattle once begun Rcqueathcd b> bleeding sire to son, Though baffled oft. ever won."