WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

• ETERNAL LABOUR. ! THE CONTENDING PARTIES. I | (Special to “Guardian”.) WELLINGTON, April 23. Proverbially we must go abroad for news, particularly for news of ourselves, and a .search through the American newspapers received here by the last mail has discovered in the leading Boston daily two articles on the liquor question in New Zealand, one written by the Rev. .Tuhn Dawson, the Secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, and the other by .Mr It. A. Armstrong, the Secretary of the Now Zealand .Moderate League and of the New Zealand Licensing Reform League. Neither of these gentlemen, it seems, had seen the other’s article, and consequently, thev engage in no personal controversy hut each of them is definite and flunk in his assertion of the righteousness ol his own cause. ’I hoy hoth occupy some considerable space in explaining the licensing system of this country and i-i detailing its operation in past years: |,ut local interest in their contribution's to the American newspaper will centre round their predictions concerning the poll to he held this year. It would he only natural that on hoth sides the wish in a measure should give colour to the thought; hut the controversialists appear to have done their best to divest themselves ol the inevitable bias of their convictions and to present their cases with judicial precision. Perhaps -Mr Dawson finds it a little more, diflieult than does Mr Armstrong to maintain this attitude; hut it may he said for hoth of them that they have approached the discussion of the subject with becoming dignity and with a commendable measure ot sell-restraint.. THE PRO 111 BIT lON I STS’ ASPIRATIONS.

At the poll in 1922, 300,79! voles were east for Prohibition. 282,609 for Continuance and 35,727 lor State ( ontrol. Both parties are now urging the elimination of the State ( ontrol issue, hut while the Prohibitionists wish only Prohibition and Continuance to remain on the ballot paper, the .Moderates submit that Corporate Control. which would give the Government a monetary interest in the liquor trade and a direct voice in its management, should he substituted for State Control. These points are discussed at some length by hoth Mr Dawson and Mr Armstrong. The arc political rather than social and there is no space for their elaboration here. “The policy o| the Alliance," Mr Dawson says, “is to make known to the voters in the electorates the attitude of their member and to publish his rc-ord as icgaids voting in the House-.” There is no electorate with less than 2,000 Pioliibitiou voters in it. and practically speaking, 1,000 votes in any electorate are sufficient to decide the late of any candidate. Members of Parliament nr? increasingly recognising that, instea.l of being down and out, the New Zealand Alliance is to-day more vigorous, more thoroughly organised and better supported financially than ever it has been belore. ’lherclore it is to he expected that the 300.791 Prohibition voters can look forward to more attention being give'ii to their reasonable requests upon Parliament than has been accorded to them in recent years.” This looks as if members of Parliament seeking re-election will have the Prohibition eye watching them closely, during the approaching session. THE MODERATES’ CONCLUSION. Mr Armstrong, after making an exhaustive analysis of the voting at the licensing polis during the last i vents years, reaches the conclusion that the prohibition movement has spent its maximum forte and is now on the decline.' “In view of the foregoing cirt'uinsLvm .•• . pecui'iarly favourable to ti c chances ol prohibition, which existed during the period under review, I , does notlie maintains, "a|i- (,, h(. ansound reason lor expecting tile prohibit ion rule to increase al the next poll. Since the big drop between 1911 and 1911 it has remained practically stationary at IS to 19 polecat of the total vote. It would certainly appear that the® probable tendency of any change would he ill a downward direction. New Zealand is a stable constituency. Its people are not easily carried away by waves ol emotion. The State system of education has made its younger adult generation a very intelligent and observant people. The fact that alter live years of so-called Prohibition the United States is still struggling with a. • liquor problem ' of huge dimensions is not overlooked by New Zealanders, nor is the reversion from Prohibition to State Control of Lhe Canadian provinces. furthermore, New Zealanders know themselves to lie a sober people requiring no legal shackles to keep them to right living and good citviensliip.” Mr final word is that the opposition to prohibition appear.-, to he growing and becoming more articulate, wli-le the prohibition movement appears to have reached its zenith. These deductions may not he altogether justified by the tacts, hut they seem to lie in keeping with popuiar opinion here. ORGANISATION. Both Mr Dawson and Mr Armstrong make allusions to the organisation of their respective parties which may be worth quoting, in part, for t.ho benefit of New Zealand readers. “The entire Dominion,” Mr Dawson explains,

“ lots been divided into eleven areas, in etteh of which an organiser lias been appointed. Over (100 churches have admitted representatives of the Alliance to conduct services and to make appeals for funds, and the response of the Church congregations has been magnificent. Band of Hope work has been revived and scores of new Bands of Hope started. The importance of this work is evidonl when it is mentioned that (id,01)0 young people, at least, will come of age and he qualified to vote for the first time at the poll. to take place in December.” The other side also is multiplying and extending its efforts. “So far as the defence against prohibition is concerned.,” writes Mr Armstrong, “the liquor trade during recent years has become better organised than in the past. There are also other bodies that are taking active part in the campaign. The Associated Clubs are now organised in their own defence. Prior to Lite last poll a body of Anglican clergymen, who were opposed to prohibition on principle, advanced a scheme known as Corporate Control as a practical solution of the liquor, question. They, in conjunction with the other bodies named are now co-operating under the name of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association in-rut endeavour to have their proposal considered, and also sweeping reforms made in the Licensing laws.” And so runs the substance of this interesting story sent abroad for American consumption.