Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOV. 17, 1896. Prohibition.

Manawatu Herald, 17 November 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOV. 17, 1896. Prohibition.

The time is closely approaching when the electorg will have to give their votes on the licensing question, as by •• The Alcoholic Liqaora Sale i Control Act Aniendpent 1895," the i day for taking such poll shall be the day appointed for taking the poll for the return of a member to the House of Representatives. The questions to bo submitted to the electors will be, whether the number of licen?e3 existing in the district continue ; whether the nunibar of licenses in the district be reduced ; whether no licenses be granted in the district. Any voter is entitled to vote for any one or two of the proposals, but tho voting will not be cumulative. The voting papers for the licensing poll are to be of a different colour to the ballot-papers for the electoral roll. The Prohibition party expect a heavy poll in favour of their views, and doubtless many votes will be so recorded by electors who have not looked into the question of the large amount of loss and suffering their aotion may entail. No one abhors the drunkenness of the few more than ourselves, but it ia impossible for any fair-minded person to ignore the fact that a large amount of capital has been sunk in providing ; publio accommodation which would be seriously affected by the refusal of license?, and though we have no objection to tbe colony becoming a teetotal one, we cannot see why we should carry prohibition a*t the co?t of the owners of public houses. If such a happy state of nif lira is to arise, as our prohibitionist friends picture, by securing total prohibition, it seems only fair that the colony, or the licensing district deriving those benefits, should recoup the losses of those engaged in the trade who will ba prohibited. We have previously urged that notice of the probability of prohibition being carried thould have been issued to the trada warning them that any action th^y chose to take after a certain date would place them beyond seeking compensation, and we hold that any outlay that has been incurred since prohibition has been rumoured should be debarred from expecting any consideration ; but in the case of oldestablished premises, and landlords, the case shows such hardship that reasonable people will shrink from bettering themselves on the sacrifices of their neighbours. To carry national prohibition it will bo necessary to show our good faith by providing compensation, and we think tbo vote soon to be taken will prove this. The most unfortunate part, however, is that the Act allows certain small areas to carry prohibition, whioh thus will entail a great I amount of hardship with the miui- j mum of good, and we thus advise the ' electors to seriously consider this ' matter. It is the voice of the many that will be heard against that of tbe few, and though very much is being said of the power of the majority, no ' success is to be obtained that is ! unfair, nor will such a success ! redound to the advantage of the victors It is also on similar grounds that just men object to that which Prohibitionists are now endeavouring to obtain — national prohibition by a bare majority. A vote carried by one cannot be looked upon as decisive, as so many accidental circumstances may have led to suoh a result, and thus prohibition gained in this manner would never be accepted ag the will of the people, and would lead the trade to hope to reverse the decision at a future election. It would also inflict a great disaster Upon many deserving people. Yet to this state we are fast drifting owing to the energy of a small body ot men who have the only one idea of making people good by Act of Parliament. It is unsatisfactory to note what may be termed the unfortunate manner their selected candidates work, who shuffle with the real question and pretend they are but instruments in the hands of the electors. Mr Kellow was a fair illustration of our contention, as he withheld from the meeting his iaten« tion of voting for prohibition by a bare majority, and the prohibition* ists endeavoured to keep this fact quiet by asking him no publio ques* tions on this point, having, apparently, made sure of it beforehand. The question is of much moment that no public man has a right to secure support without a straight-out understanding with the electors, and we do not admire the tactics of the advocates of the bare majority vote in this ease, nor do we think they are fair. It may be as well to recall to mind that the voting will be deemed to bs carried as follows:— If the number of votes show an absolute majority in favour of the number of licenses existing : That the number of licenses existing in the district shall be reduced, shall be by an absolute majority: and that not less than three-fifths of all the votes must have been recorded in favour of no licenses being granted. We hold those moat interested should not let this question be wholly '

urged by the prohibition party, as they make a very compact body in this electorate, and though not particularly happy amongst themselves politically, yet are likely to vote solid for their favourite faith. It is possible that the vote may go for reduction of licenses, as the voter is entitled to vote on the same paper for both a reduction in the number of licenses and for no licenses being granted, so that the prohibitionists are bound to avail themselves of these advantages, and with the votes of those who are desirous of seeing a reduction, may likely swell the vote in that direction into an absolute majority.