THE LICENSING POLL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3531, 31 August 1926, Page 3

THE LICENSING POLL

TWO-ISSUE BALLOT PAPER

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

1. I vote for national continuance. 2. I vote for national prohibition. The submission of the electors of New Zealand, at the next and every subsequent general licensing poll, of a ballot-paper containing the two proposals enumerated above, is the object of an amendment which Mr J. Bitchcner (Waitaki) intends to move when the House of Representatives reaches the committee stage on the recently-introduced Licensing Amendment Bill (says the Dominion). If the House does deal with the Bill this session, and the suggestions of Mr Bitchener are approved, it will mean the restoration of the old two-issue voting paper, and the deletion of the State and control issue.

The new clauses to be moved provide for no compensation to those interested in the trade, if prohibition should be carried. A bare majority will determine the issue one way or the other. If at the next general licensing poll the vote is against continuance, prohibition will betoome operative as from the June 30 after the poll. Provision is made for the consequential repeal of the Licensing Amendment Act of 1918. PROTEST FROM SALVATION ARMY. The following protest against the Licensing Bill has been forwarded to the Prime Minister by Commissioner R. Hoggard, of the Salvation Army:—“On behalf of the Salvation Army I desire to enter an emphatic protest against the provisions disclosed in the Licensing Amendment Bill. Wto consider the proposed enactment distinctly and positively opposed to national progress.”