WAR DRINK POLL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 172, 10 April 1918, Page 6

WAR DRINK POLL

FINAL SETTLEMENT OF LIQUOR QUESTION A MANIFESTO The postponement of the liquor poll from 1917 to 1918, the declarations of the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward during last session of Parliament, and (ho continued strain of tho war have caused the New Zealand Alliance to call its National Council to Wellington to consider tho position of tho liquor question in tho light of present conditions. After much deliberation, the council has adopted the following manifesto:— "That the interests of tho Dominion, and particularly the interests of our eons who are returning from theMvar, demand ft speedy and final settlement of tho liquor question. "That public opinion is now roused to a full sense of that fact. "That the time :b therefore ripe for legislative action giving immediate effect by sil'nple majority vote to tho recommendations of tho National Efficiency Board for the prohibition of the manuiauture, importation, or sale of liquor, except for sacramental, medicinal, scientific, or industrial purposes. "That during last session of Parliament both the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward expressed their opinion that such a poll should bo taken at an early date. "That if such a poll be taken within the present year, the New Zealand Alliance is prepared, as an urgency, measuro, to consent to the proposal for a money payment to tho Trade on the lines of the board's recommendations. "That if Parliament fail to make provision for such a poll we demand as a minimum that legislation be passed this yeur giving the people the right, by simple majority vote, to put a final end to the manufacture, importation, and sale of liquor in New Zealand, except as above; the vote to take full effect sj that the Trade shall'cense and- determine not later than June 30, 1919, and without any money payment. "That the New Zealand Alliance, however, in making this statement, emphatically reaffirms that the liquor trade has no right in law, equity, or morals to compensation." The Alliance has also decided "to urge the Government in tho meantime to stop the sale of liquor at all ports of landing aud'.at aiJ places where troop trains stop with returned soldiers en route to their homes as is done in South Africa. Australia, end other countries, eo that our heroio returned boys may meet their relatives and friends in a manner worthy of heroes- and avert the heartrending scenes that shocked 60 many on a recent occasion when our boys came home."