WET-OR-DRY ELECTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 278, 14 February 1928, Page 13

WET-OR-DRY ELECTION

AIMS OF N.Z. ALLIANCE BARE MAJORITY VOTE “Mr. Coates admits that the strongest power in the land to-day is the democratic vote, with each man's opinion as valuable, as that of the next. Surely then a bare majority vote on the licensing issue is only justice,” said Mr. C. R. Edmond, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, at the complimentary dinner tendered to Messrs. George Winstone and Wesley Spragg last evening. Mr. Edmond expressed a determination to keep fighting for what the Alliance had conducted a 37-years’ crusade—a two-issue ballot on a bare majority vote. The action of the Legislative Council in throwing out the proposed alterations in the referendum was forcing the next general election to be fought on the licensing issue. The Alliance did not wish to make its principle a matter for the political prize-ring, but if it was forced to do so, the fight would be waged with the utmost vigour. Next session the question would be before the House again and what would then happen was a matter for conjecture. Mr. Edmond denied.that his organisation wished to kill the Reform Party. “They support us,” he said. “It is the Legislative Council that is wrong.” Mr. Edmonds was confident that victory was in sight. He stressed the fact that the only barrier hitherto had been apathy. Last election 47.3 per cent, of the electors of the Dominion voted no-liceuse, and if half of those would win a vote for prohibition the fight would be won.