LICENSING POLL.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1922, Page 2

LICENSING POLL.

WHAT THE COUNTRY WANTS. WELLINGTON, Bee. 11 Referring to the licensing poll of last week n.t a service at the King’s Theatre last night the Rev T. Feilden Taylor said that it was quite evident, after twelve years’ voting, that the majority of the people of New Zealand did not want prohibition, but it also was evident that the majority wanted reform of some kind. It would bo. the speaker said, a waste of time and money to continue to urge such a thing as prohibition, and lie for one felt, ho could not go on doing so. He felt that the majority who wanted some kind of reform must think out a reform in which both prohibitionists and state controllers would agree, and which the public would bff most likely to accept. The trub reformer does not recognise that he is defeated, and if one method of reform is unacceptable lie must try another. The speaker felt that the liquor referendum should he given a rest for ten years, and for his part lie felt he must give it that rest. For the future he would work along the lino of reform and would do all he could to suggest a process of reform which would be a reform indeed. The referendum is a democratic way of settling public problems and a referendum which has for twelve years furnished the same answer shopld mirely be. popsldorpij ns settled.