THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1919. THURSDAY’S LICENSING POLL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 7 April 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1919. THURSDAY’S LICENSING POLL.

The poll to be taken throughout the Dominion on Thursday next, 10th inst., is the most momentous that has been submitted to the people of New Zealand. Though tlie liquor question has been agitating the minds of the people for a great many years, and we have -had many local option and Dominion option polls, this is the first time that a straight-out issue of Prohibition and Continuance has been -before the people, to be' decided on democratic lines by a bare majority. The liquor traffic will be oh its trial on Thursday, when the men and women of New Zealand shall decide its fate. What does the liquor traffic stand for? Experience goes to prove that the licensing of liquor selling brings in its train drunkenness, poverty, degradation, inefficiency, and many social evils. New Zealand is a comparatively sober corntry, yet, according to the official Year Book, during the year 1916—tho last year for which official figures arc available—no less than 10,098 persons—--10,22S males and 770 females—were convicted of drunkenness in this fair land. These figures alone are a tremendous indictment against the liquor traffic, but there is so much more that one cannot possibly put into figures. What of the bright young lives, the happy homes, blasted and blighted by this evil thing? What of the hundreds of innocent babes brought, into the world damned before they draw breath? But there is little need for us to expatiate on The evils of drink, for there is scarcely a home, even in this fair Dominion, but what has been touched, directly or indirectly, by tho blasting hand of this eril monster. What, then, is the remedy? Our moderate drinkers will say, moral suasion. Has not moral suasion been tried for generations and failed? .Surely it is illogical to endeavour to persuade people to become abstainers and to refrain from the evil effects of alcohol, while, all the time, we keep the liquor bars open, thus putting a continuous temptation in the way of tho unwary! After trying other means of reform, the great majority of social reformers have come to the conclusion that it is useless to take half incasures with this great social evil, and they urge that tho temptation be removed by striking at the very root of the trouble, and wiping out the liquor bars. We have not the space to discuss trie arguments advanced for and against Prohibition —the matter has been dealt with very fully on the public Tdatforms in this and all other districts, and the newsrmper columns have been flooded with arguments on both sides—but we do appeal to our readers to consider this vital question on the highest grounds— to cast away local or selfish motives, and to settle this matter in their own rninds as one affecting the welfare of the nation as well as the individual. - Let each elector ask himself or herself these questions: la the liquor traffic a necessity? Will its continuance be for the uplifting of the people of New Zealand J Will it make for efficiency?If they can conscientiously answer these questions in the affirmative, they will cast their votes for Continuance on Thursday. But, calmly considering, the evil wrought by. the liquor traffic in' the past, knowing full well that this,must continue in the future if the Trade remains, and* taking into consideration the lack or efficiency and, the waste it causes, if they are true to their nobler instincts they will decide that the liquor bars must go. This is a question that calls for sacrifice by many. It will be a hardship for manymoderate drinkers to forego their glass : of liquor, but we believe that many will say as a prominent business man of Wellington was reported as saying recently:—"l love my glass of liquor, but I love my country better." No great' social reform was ever gained, without some sacrifice."" As a poet says:Nothing great- is lightly won; j Nothing "won is lost. Every good.deed nobly done Will repay the cost.

The abolition of slavery met with tremendous opposifion from many of the leading men of that day. yet who would dare to advocate a return..to fast state of affairs eow? Oar soldiers have made sacrifices/, mothers and . fathershave mafle- sacrifices, .and we ,should, not hesitate to do jso if we are convinc-

cd that the abolition of the drink traffic is in tho interests' of our country, our_ f ellawmen and our children. "We are our brothers.' keepers, for truly "no man-livctk unto himself.'' Perhaps the greatest appeal of all is from the children's standpoint. In a few years' tme the drink traffic ivould die of itself if it did not make fresh recruits from the young life of this land, and it is just as.likely to take its recruits from your own family as from your neighbour's. An average of 5000 young men and women each year appear before onr police courts as iirst offenders for drunkenness. Will yon take tho responsibility of keeping up this supply of recruits to tho ranks of the drunkards? Surely not! For the sake of our boys and girls, who would not vote Prohibition, even if it meant a little sacrifice? The abilition of the liquor bars should mean a cleaner, healthier, happier and more efficient people, and for that reason we believe the majority of our people will on Thursday next decide to wipe out the open bar for all time.