THE DEMAND OF THE PEOPLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 26, 25 October 1918, Page 6

THE DEMAND OF THE PEOPLE

NEW ZEALAND'S VOICE.

AN UNDENIABLE TJTTERAXdSs. •

\. In December, 1914, when the war was in its darkest hour for tho Allied armies, the prohibitionists made uso of the war to try and advance their political nostrum. ■ A majority of the electors of New: said that the present licensing system in tho Dominion should continue without alteration. The electors sakt they did not believe the prohibition agitators, who were unpatrioticaliy taking advantage, of war to foment strife and ill-will in tho country.

What was the demand of tho people? They wero asked to_vote for National Continuance or National Prohibition, Over 257,000 electors went to the polls and demanded national continuance, and they were in a majority of over 10,(100. That was tho voice of the pnople. That was their undeniable utterance.

How did the prohibitionists accept that demand? By continuously endeavouring to split the Dominion'into factions to fight over the liquor question wji.en all should be united to win the war. They have never 'ceased their agitation. They have spent vast siime of money, and arc now spending largo amounts to foment internal strife when such money was, mid is, moit needed to win the ,war, or for patriotic purposes— the lied Cross or the Y.M.C.A. There Iβ no patriotism in the prohibition, movement.

Our soldiers are fighting to preservo our democracy and national freedom from tho domination of the most ruthless and insatiable military autocracy in the world. And the prohibitionists are fighting to destroy our soldiers' freedom and the. individual liberty of every citizen in this Dominion. Gorman-like, the insatiable prohibition party seeks to create an autocracy in New Zealand which would make it impossible for any man or woman to exercise bis or her individual judgment or free will. Nothing would bo more dangerous to the democratic welfare of any ueople than a victory i'or prohibition.

The majority of New Zealnnders arc convinced, of (his, and they have demanded that until the next general election there shall be no interference willi tin! existing system of licensing. Tlio-o who talk otherwise are deceiving llicmselves, and the truth is not in thesiA(By arrangement-)