The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, October 13, 1910. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 904, 13 October 1910, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, October 13, 1910. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The new Licensing Bill has been read in the House a first time. It came as a surprise to the country, as it was stated in certain authoritative quarters that there was not the least hope of any amendments being made to the present licensing legislation during the life of the present Parliament, The Bill is in the nature of a compromise between the Liquor and No-License parties. While making concessions to both sides it does not concede all that is asked by either side. The reduction issue is to go. We may say that this is mutually satisfactory. Dominion prohibition is linked with local no-license. That is to say the person who votes for local no-license casts a vote also for Dominion prohibition. This clause is very debateable, but it gives that section who are opposed to no-license, but who say they would vote for prohibition if it applied to the whole Dominion, an opportunity. to vote in the direction indicated. They may object, however, that in order to vote for something they do want they are compelled to vote for something they don’t want. The demands of such objectors can only be met by issuing separate ballot papers on the question of Dominion prohibition. Now, we are as anxious as any one to see the drink business swept out of this country lock, stock and barrel —but we want to see this great reform effected by fair means and on a strictly moral basis. Therefore, in order to keep faith with these objectors—and there is a strong presumption that a large percentage of them comprise the unconvertible residue — let the Government issue separate ballot papers. It is possible that this point may be conceded, but will the concession be made on the democratic principle of the bare majority ? Other features of the Bill are that the 60 per centum majority is reduced to 55 per centum, and the present requirement that half the number of voters on the roll must record their votes is done away with. This is only right. Why should those who do not desire to exercise the franchise

be allowed to influence the result of the poll one way or the other ? A. big concession is made to the Liquor Party in that should Dominion prohibition be carried it shall not come into force until four years have elapsed. This is equivalent to very considerable compensation. In the event of local no-license being carried it shall not come into force for twelve months as against six months. This also is a concession to the Trade. The minor provisions as to the abolishing of barmaids and bottle licenses etc., will meet with general satisfaction from both parties. There may be minor amendments to the Bill before it is placed on the Statute Book, but on the whole it should be the means of bringing this great reform movement a step nearer finality.