Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 21, 1896. The Licensing Poll.

Manawatu Herald, 21 November 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 21, 1896. The Licensing Poll.

. ~« A fractional number of the population are banded together to secure a. revolution in the conduct of the lives of all under an Act of Parliament with the laudable desire of doing good. These people style themselves prohibitionists, from having determined to deny themselves what they consider is not good to drink, and are desirous that everyone not of their way of thinking should be by Aot of Parliament prohibited from taking any alcoholic liquor.* To oover their weakness they profess to be guided by the vote of the people, and as at the last general election, so at the ooming one, a licensing poll will be held. As there appears to be a grave misunderstanding as to the working of the- Act, we desire to make the' point a little plainer, so that everyone polling at the election of members may also take the trouble to record a vote at the licensing poll. We have heard it stated, many times, that there is no dnnger of a vote for "no license " being carried. This is arrived at from the belief that all who go to the pollingbooth will vote on the licensing question, and if they did, the result 19 not in the least doubtful ; but the danger lies in their neglecting taking such a course. The danger of ignoring the vote is great, as the Act distinctly refers to the majorities of those taking part in the poll, not as to the majority residing in the district, so it will be at ones seen that a oompact body voting one way needs to be counteracted by those who deßire the licensing law to remain as it is. We are rather surprised that the trade, which has so much at stake, has not before now taken the tremble to make this point clear ; but as the prohibitionists aim not only at the trade, but at the right of every colonist to drink that which he pleasetb, it is but right that attention should be drawn to their using the vote offered them in the way: Ahey tliink most to their benefit. (All that we desire to see is that every voter records a vote at the licensing poll.