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Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1878, 17 September 1918, Page 3

'What does the elector ask for if he signs the Liquor Trade’s Petition? Ostensibly he requests a poll on three issues:—National Continuance, National Ownership, and National Prohibition. But road the Liquor Trade’s Petition carefully, and it will be found that it asks that these issues are not only to be decided on a bare majority vote, but the elector is to vote for one issue only, and, still more important, that no issue is to he carried unless it secures a majority of the total votes east on the three issues. Just what this delightfully undemocratic measure involves is best seen by noting how it might work out at an election. Suppose National Continuance secures a majority —plainly The trade wins. Suppose National Ownership secures a majority, who wins? The Trade, as will he clearly seen when its price is made known. But suppose none of the three issues secures a majority, who wins? The Trade, once more scores, for there would he no-change. In short, Liquor demands a three-to-one chance. Not bad odds, is it? —for Liquor. Contrast this with the Alliance Petition. The National Efficiency Board investigated the Liquor Traffic with impartiality. After hearing the arguments of all sides and classes, it came to the conclusion that the Liquor Traffic is ope of New Zealand’s greatest enemies to efficiency. In the interests of the people it therefore proposed to secure National Prohibition at once —provided a majority of electors were in favour of that course. The Alliance Monster Petition asks Parliament to grant a poll on the basis of the Board’s report. Sign the N.Z. Alliance Petition, and refuse to sign that on behalf of Liquor. If you have signed the latter under a misapprehension, ask your M.P. to have your name removed or send word to the N.Z. Alliance representative at once,* 25