THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1919. TO-MORROW’S POLL.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 9 April 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1919. TO-MORROW’S POLL.

To-morrow the people of New Zealand will have an opportunity of saying .whether the liquor traffic shall continue or not. The issue to bo submitted is a clear-cut one: Continuance, or Prohibition with compensation.. Should Continuance be carried, another poll will be taken at the same time as the next general election, which will probably be. in December next, but three issues will be submitted then: Continuance, Prohibition without compensation, and State Control. Should Prohibition be carried at to-morrow’s poll, this will lake eifcct-as from June 30th next, and compensation, not exceeding four’and a-half .millions sterling, will be paid to owners of public houses, and also to employees of hotels who suffer through the abolition of the traffic. It must bo remembered that though a bare majority will carry either to-mor-row 's poll or the referendum if taken next December, to carry' Prohibtion or State Control at the latter fcoll would mean that voters for those issues would have to poll more than the other two issues combined. This is an important fact that the Trade very carefully conceals. It is fitting that this—one of the greatest of all social questions, and one vitally affecting the welfare of the people and the nation —should be submitted to the people @n democratic lines l,y a bare majority. The campaign has. been a hard-fought and somewhat bitter one. Both sides have placed their views very fully before the public, and, though the tactic* adopted have at times been anything but creditable, we believe the general public is sufficiently seized with the facts to cast an intelligent vote. We trust that electors will fully realise their citizen rights, and malco full use of same to-morrow. We urge that every elector shall carefully weigh the pros and cons, and cast his or her vote with a full consciousness of the responsibility placed on him, and his duty to himself, his children, his friends, and the nation as a whole.