Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY NOV. 26, 1896. Is Everything Fair?

Manawatu Herald, 26 November 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY NOV. 26, 1896. Is Everything Fair?

+ The New Zealand Alliance has just flooded this district with a prohibition tract entitled " how to vote and why." There is an old saying that everything is fair in love and war, but is it ? If not, our prohibitionist friends must be condemned for the proposals they make to secure their own ends. They are entitled to ask everyone to vote tho way they may wish them to, provided in explaining the result of such voting it will not be likely to mislead the voter. The voting paper will have three lines : I vote that tha number of licenses existing in the district continue ; I vote that the number of licenses existing in the district ba reduced ; I vote that no license be granted in the district. It is olearly understood that the prohibitionists wish to see tha last line carried, but each lint contains a different proposal upon which each votar may wish to vote separately, and it is evidently from the three questions being put, our lawmakers desire distinct answers. But as the legislature has determined that those who vote for " no license " can also vote for the number of licenses to be reduced has made a great concession to the prohibition party and is one they should have been very well I contented with without sot-king for more, but the prohibitionist does not believe in prohibiting any demands bis leader makes upon him, so wa got these tracts. We have shown that as the law stands the prohibitionist has a two to one chance against tha moderate drinker in carrying a vote for tho reduction in the number of licenses, but they want more ! In the tract they tell their readers to strike out the top line only, as " you do not put either of the two issues you thus vote for to any disadvantage." If a voler desires only to see a reduction in the number of licenses carried yet leaves uncancelled the line that no licenses be granted in the district, he votes for total prohibition, and tha attempt to mislead a voter by any statement to the contrary cannot be characterised in complimentary terms. The safest way for a voter to act ii to be decided as to what he wants and strike out the other two lines. Thus if he wants licensing matters to remain as they are, which appears the fairest plan, as by law the licenses cannot be increased without a very large addition to the population, ho should strike out 4he two last lines. If tha voter wishes to see a reduction in the licenses he should be credited with sufficient sense to know a reduction is not abolition, and he therefore 6bould strike out the top and bottom line. If the voter desires no licenses, he strikes out the two top line?, with the full knowledge that his vote means in addition a reduction in the licenses. This is a very plain statement of fact and cannot be gainsaid, and thus exposes the underhand manner the prohibitionist is seeking to persuade a voter to act — to vote for no license under the plea that he may probably secure a reduction in licenses. It is a distinot attempt to mislead those inclined to favour the reduction in tha number of existing lioenses to vote for total prohibition. These are tactics which are of no credit to the prohibition party and the indulgence in them will, where exposed, be to their disadvantage. The people have sanctioned a poll being taken on this licensing question to find out what the people really think on the question, but they want the vote to be given fair and square and without dodgery in any shape, and the attempt to get those who are in favour of a reduction in licenses to vote also for total prohibition is dodgery of the worst description. This tract contains another most misleading statement as to the fact that a voter who might not like " to see Prohibition carried in your district except by a very large majority as the voting is taken on General Eleotion day when the largest numbers go to tha poll, it ■ cannot possibly be carried except as the reeult of a very large and overwhelming expression of the public mind in its favour." The extraot does not exactly state that all who go to the poll to vote for the parliamentary candidate will be counted for or against the licensing vote, but it suggests that anyhow, but the probability is very different. The two polls are kept entirely distinot and it is very probable that not one half who vote for a candidate will vote at the licensing poll, none need unless they like, and as we have before pointed out this is our chief danger of having prohibition carried by the majority who voted at the licensing poll, but who are the minority of those entitled to vote. And this the N.Z. Alliance knows full well and is the reason of their endeavouring to get those in favour of a reduction in licenses to leave the last line in the ballot paper untouched which gives a vote also for "no licenses." We hope voters will give tbia point their serious attention.

Messrs Abraham and Williams hold their stock Bale at Levin to-morrow. We are in reoeipt of the balanoe sheet of the Manawatu County Counoll for the past year. In another column Mr Stansell thanks the Burgesses for placing him at the top of the poll yesterday. The next meeting of the Otaki Llceming Committee will be held at Otaki on Wednesday. Mr James Robinson finished his shearing on Tuesday. From the growth of the tomato plants we saw in Mr J. Ingrain's garden we rather expeot he will be the first to pick this fruit in this district. Shearing commenced at Harrington this morning. The Returning Officer gives notioe as to when the Licensing Poll will be held. On Saturday Messrs Abraham and Williams hold their unreserved Bale of horses at Palmers ton. Mrs England has a small orange tree growing iv a pot in her dining-room, which is not more than twelve inches high, and yet is full of blossom. The variety is the Otaiheili orange and was obtained from America. Reports from Blantyre, Nyassa, Btate that an expedition under Lieut. Alston has captured Kapuri, chief of the Yaos tribe, and burned s town consisting of 80,000 buildings, also that it has put a stop to slave raiding. The.dockers at Hamburg and at Altona have Blruck for higher wages. The particulars as to the date of nomination and day of polling and polling places are to-day advertised by the Returning Officer, A. Simpson, Esq; We have to thank Mr Jamas Ingram for a very fine cucumber of his growing. Mais will be celebrated at St. Mary's, Foxton, on Sunday, at 8.30 a.m. Shearing was finished at the Motoa Estate yesterday morning, and the shearers have moved on to tho Messrs Strang'a. Mrs J. Ingram has a fine collection of roses on standard stems in front of her house in town. We were shown by Mr England some Langstroth hives made in America, wbioh he has imported and put together. They are an object lesson in nice work and oleanworked wood and should be seen. There is no comparison between the Colonial and the American hives. Mr J. R. Montague will sell seotion No. 198, Foxton, by auction on Saturday. This is a piece of land containg two acres and ten perches, with a small buildiDg thereon, in Pnrcell-street. It was the property of the late Mvs Brown. M J. W. Liddell, who has been erecting an lul.l.ti- n to Mr Thjnne'g residence has concluded his contraot to the entire satisfaction of the owner. Mr Jenks has the painting and papering oontraot in hand. Intelligence has been received from Taupo that, after a few days' comparative quietude, Te Mare again shows great activity. On Tuesday morning, about 9.30 a.m., a large cloud of dark smoke appeared suddenly, and grew darker as it ascended. Simultaneously Crater Lake, on the extreme height of the edge of Tongariro, threw up a vast volume of steam, and Keterahi, another outlet, has spouted, too, whioh, with Ngaruahoe in the left background, made an interesting quartette. Country barber (affably to total stranger) " Very tryin' weather this, sir. Makes you feel as if you'd like your body in a pond, an' your 'cad in a publio-'ouse*" The members of All Saints' oongregation intend holding an afternoon tea and garden party in Mr Rhodes' pretty garden on Tuesday; There will be a variety of amusements besides a sale of work and vegetables. The admission will be only one shilling. Notice has been given by the clerk that the sitting of the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court fixed for the 3rd of December will be adjourned to the beginning of January. MoKee and Gamble, Photo-Engravers and Lithographers, Wellington. Send for quotation.