The Licensing Act.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 10 December 1918, Page 3

The Licensing Act.

BOTH PARTIES SATISFIED. Wellington, December 9. The rapid passage of the Licensing Bill through Parliament confounded most of the prophets, who anticipated 1 that there was going to be a fight, particularly with reference to the proposed three-issue ballot paper for the general licensing poll. But it became clear quickly that the Prohibitionists and the Trade suporters had reached something like agreement on the main points of the bill,- which passed through all its stages on Saturday. It was 3escrib;-d •by several members in the course of debate as a compromise, and apparently it wa.s a compromise by which the parties were willing to stand. The leading Prohibitionists arc satisfied that their cause made important progress, and they do not disguise their elation. They enumerate their gairthus: (1) An early referendum on Liie direct issue of prohibition with compensation, a bare majority to dcc!'.::> (2) the abolition of the three-fifths majority for all future referenda and the establishment of the principle of the bare majority; (3) th c abolition of the four-vcar period of grace formerly allowed the Trade in the event of prohibition being carried. Thc Prohibi- ] tionists claim that the proposed thireeifssue ballot, with the provision that continuance is to be deemed carried unless one of the other issues, prohibition without compensation ami State ownership, secures an absolute majority of the votes cast, is nnfair and undemocratic, but they do not regard it as final. If t'hey do not carry prohibition in April, they will set to work to secure an amendment of the ballot paper. 1 hey will ask either for preferential voting or foj" a t wo-iss;'e ballot paper. The Trade supporters on the other hand are fairly well content with the establishment of the principles of compeiijsation, and believe that when the prohibitionists propose the amendment of the three-issue ballot paper for the genera) licensing poll, in the event of the referendum not being . carried in Apiil next they will be able to get compensation introduced there. The Trade, of course, will resist the amendment of this ballot paper in the direction proposed by the prohibitionists. It will argue that the existing state of affairs ought to persist until a majority of the electors have made up fcheiV minds that t-lrcy want a chongp in a particular direction. As soon as a majority of the people Irave decided that they want either National Prohibition or fata to Control tliev can get it w the three-issue ballot paper. Both parties in the meantime are beginning their preparations for' the licensing campaign that has to be fought during the next four months.