NEW BALLOT PAPER URGED FOR LIQUOR POLL

Chronicle (Levin), 24 July 1947, Page 2

NEW BALLOT PAPER URGED FOR LIQUOR POLL

WELLINGTON, July 23. The form of ballqt paper for future national licensing polls was cUseussed at iongth at the antfual meetmg of the New ZeaJand Allianoe today. The diseussiou eentred on. a suggestion of the Royal Commission on Lieensing to divide the paper into two parts as follow: Part 1, contiuuaxiee.(subject to vote in part 2) or prohibition; part 2 (to operate if con^inuance is carried), for corporate control or against eorporate eontrol. This form of > ballot paper was ILnally accepted subject to provisos that a decision be taken on a bare majority of votes recorded and that the second issue be on'a scparate paper. Supporting the Commission 's recom: mendation, the Rev. (4. H. Goodman (Masterton) contended that at present the dice was loaded against either state control or prohibition as each was oue issue against two. Anything setting out two issues clearly should be encouragcd. lf contiuuance were carried the people would then get a vote on the form it would take. This, he said, was quite in harmony with the Alliance's past position. The provision for a bare majority decision was included on the motion oi Mr. C. Ii. Edmond. Without it, he said, the cause of prohibition would be better off under the present set up. The present votes for State control were votes for continuance of a special type. They would not come to the prohibitionists under the new proposal, he said. Two speakers held that at least a 55 per cent majority / for prohibition, though undemocratic, was necessarv for stabilitv. A smaller majority would not give sufficient public support for prohibition to ensure its success.