MISSION OF LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 310, 19 September 1918, Page 6

MISSION OF LABOUR

PARTY'S VIEWS ON LICENSING QUESTION. By TelesrapL-r'i'esa Association. liunedin, September 18. The Hon. J. T. Paul, national president of the Now Zealand Labour Party, lias made the following statement on behalf of the party:— "The Labour Party have consistently opposed the postponement of the general election, and have determined to ask the electors to pronounce against •further delay. A general election carries a poll on the licensing question. The national executive, or the party have carefully ♦considered the position created by the rival petitions on the licensing question now beforo the electors. They are in serious disagreement with botli petitions, for the reason that they are anti-democratic. "The first petition issufcd. asks for a poll on Prohibition, with compensation (as defined by.the National Efficiency Hoard's report, with estimated compensation of £4,500,000 for goodwill). That is a limitation of democratic rights, "as considerable bodies 01 electors desire to vote on other issues. "The second petition asks for a poll on national continuance, national Prohibition, and national ownership, and domains that these issues be settled by a majority veto. This demand is an interference with democratic rights, because it will prevent expression of the people's will on this important question. To be carried, one issue iihust poll more than all the remaining issues put together. ''The Labour Party's chief mission is to protect and preserve democratic principles, and they have decided to demand u settlement of the liquor (question in accord with those principles. The party have decided Ho issue two petitions-'-one demanding a general election early next year, the other demanding a poll on the liquor question on four issues: (1) National continuance; (2) immediate national Prohibition with compensation; (3) immediate national Prohibition without compensation; (4) national ownership. _ The party further demand that these issues he decided by preferential voting, usim; a. single transferable voh\ These petitions will he accompanied by vigorous campaign. "Hie Labour Party object to it policy which keepsithe people's necessary food in cold stor.'lge. They object as strongly to a policy of Government which assigns. all necessary domestic; legislation and political activity to cold storage. : The country is at the crists of is nnlitical M". and the nnrty propose taking a definite hand in helping to restore democratic government."