LIQUOR AND LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3142, 21 July 1917, Page 2

LIQUOR AND LABOUR

MR. J. M'COMBS, M.P., EXPLAINS WHY HE LEFT THE LABOUR PARTY , The reasons that actuated Sir. J. ll'Combs, A[.l\, in severing his connection with the- Key Zealand Labour Party are set forth in a letter addressed by Mr. Jl'Combs to the. secretary of the party. "In compliance with the request pf your executive I wish to set forth in writing the reasons which compelled me to sevtfr my connection with an organisation which I had hoped would give its undivided attention to tho furtherance of Labour and democratic ideals," writes Mr. M'Combs. "I cannot question the right of tho Labour Party to stand for State, control or to ask that tho issue bo submitted to the people, and ns a supporter of the principle of the initiative and referendum 1 could not resist tho placing on tho ballot paper of any issuo which was supported by a requisition signed by at least 10 per cent, of the electors, all the issues to be decided on tho .bare majority basis. That, I tako it, is the democratic position, but it does not necessarily follow that I should bo one of tho 10 per cent, to sign the requisition, nor bo a party to requesting that the issuo should be placed before tho people. Let those who bclievo in Stato control form an organisation of Hicir own outside tho Lalwur Party, find then, when they secure tho required requisition, let thorn petition Parliament. "I am convinced that, the Labour Parly in New Zealand will make a, fatal blunder by taking the initiative in this matter. To attempt to nationalise a trade which half the people want to see wined out is bad tactics. It would be a bad beginning for the national ownership of monopolies to take over a business which to make a financial success of would spell the greater hurt to the people. Tho greater the financial success tho greater tho hurt. Tho Prohibitionists, by their years of work, have, in my opinion, not only won the rightto have tho issuo placed Ijeforo the people on an -unfettered vote, but have won the right to have their proposal tried. "In support of this contention I would Temind you that at four successive polls tho people of New Zealand declared against tho continunnco of tho liquor traffic. The voting was as follows:— Con- No linuance. License. Majority. 190:! ..'.••.. 148,449 151,524 3,075 1005 182,884 198,768 15,884 1008 188,140 221,471 .13,331 19U 205,061 259,943 54,282

"It is true that iu WU, just after war whs declared, the people hesitated to disturb tho existing conditions, and voted for continuanco by a majority or 10,000; but by all tho rules of tho game the liquor traffic should havo been lons sinco wiped out, and tho issue submitted in 1914 would then havp been not continuance or national prohibition, but restoration or 3ion-rostoration. Uhere is littlo doubt what tho verdict would have "Statements hive been made that the carrying of national prohibition would throw 10,000 employees on the labour market, and this, of course, should concern a Labour Party. Tho facts, however, are that thero are only 1043 barmaids and barmen, and tho total number of hands employed in tho brewing industry is only 741. Hotel servants not engaged in tho bar trade number 4bi9, and the managers, together with hotel-, keepers and relatives assisting, number 2742, but presumably these, or most ot them, would still find employment in their present occupations. Anyhow, it the motley now spent on liquor were diverted into the useful trades and industries of the Dominion it would give employment to a greater number ot persons than it now does. "I would like 'to warn members that some of the brewers are very anxious to be bought out, while some ot the hotelkeepers are merely anxious to confuse tho issues, and having samed their ends they would have no more use for a State Control Labour Party .Recently, the brewers of Auckland tried to float a company in England, which was rot altogether a success. I'rom )>" vato ,n , formation received they know that tliert' will-shortly be a surplus of ..£6,000,000 in the State Treasury, and they are turniug "reedy eyes in its direction. Now, every penny of that .£6,000,000 is urgently wanted for educational purposes, for increasing the pay and pensions for the soldiers and their dependants, lor increasing the old age pensions and lor a number of other purposes. „.„,„,„ "We cannot afford to spend £6,000,000 and more in acrjuiring a business which a. majority of tho people havo more than thrice vetoed. The Labour and Socialist movement throughout the world is coming more and more definitely into line against the drink evil as a hindrance to , all social and political progress, and on a matter so vital there can bo no compromise. , "In conclusion I wish to state that my position is the same as that stated at tho Labour conference, when I saitf that I would have to work for the Labour movement outside, an organisation which was lending itself to the furtherance of State control. On matters of policy and on questions of expediency I am willing to bow to tho decision of the majority, as witness my attitude in the recent municipal contest, but on questions of principle I claim the right of individual judgment. My political pledges which I made to my constituents have in no way been violated and ao party has the right to demand that I shall acquiesco in a change of prograinino after I am elected. Of course I know that this position would not be challenged by the S.D.P.. under whose auspices I "was elected."