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Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1919, Page 2

The Mother-Parliament, of tlio Commonwealth lias resolved to deal with the liquor question, but judging by the comment of a correspondent, it will deal with the matter more circumspectly than did New Zealand with its rush ' legislation. The Government of New South Wales has not decided when it will take the referendum on a bare majority on the question of prohibition. A referendum has to be taken sooner or later—that was the decision arrived at by the State Legislative Assembly, and accepted by the Government. Parliament gave no instruction, however, in regard to the date of the poll, and it was supposed that it would be taken on the occasion of the State election about a. year hence. It is now stated, however that it is unlikely that the vote will be taken then. The Government, in order that the vote shall be a perfectly, fair one, says that all the soldiers must be home before it is taken, and that will probably involve a period of from twelve to eighteen months. A preliminary regarded as essential is the computation of the amount of compensation to be paid. The Government accepts the principle of compensation. Once the basis is settled, the Government will consider the conditions under which the referendum may be taken. The electors will be told that if prohibition is carried the State must pay and they will bo told how much will have to be paid. Another matter i which must be seriously considered in ! connection with this question isjhat of vine-growing. There are millions in- | vested in this State in viticulture and wine production, and the Government is by no means willing to sweep away a very- big anid profitable industry, just at a time when industries which will at onco employ many men and produce much wealth arc most urgently demanded. It may yet prove that the question of bow to deal with the wineproducing industry will settle the prohibition issue in this State l , for the prohibitionists fnolisTilv refuse to agree to any compromise on the subject. According to a Wellington eoiitompor- j

ary an dea prevails that it is the intention of the Government to go on with a lot of extra public works in order to find works for returning soldiers Indeed, mention has been made of a special schedule of works being in readiness for the coming of men in such bodies that they might not at once find employment otherwise. The Minister of Public Works said last week that this was not at all his intention. Up till the present very few soldiers had applied to the Department for employment and he did not expect that any large number of them would apply in future. He could give work to a considerable number of men if they would apply through the District Engineers of the Department. The truth was that he was already and had been for some time, about 3000 men short of the number that he ought to have on public works at this .time of the year, and he did not anticipate that even when all the men come back he would be able to get at once so many men as would bring his force of roads and bridges and railways men up to strength. Owing to the wastage of the war the supply of man-power in the Dominion had been short for two or three years, and it was yet far from sufficient for requirements The growth of youths to man hood had not, as it would in normal times, kept pace with the requirements of the community in the work of strong men, owing to the loss of so many men in the Army. Nor did lie think that the shortage due to permanent wastage would be recovered for some years unless it should be made up by immigration.