DOUBLY UNWISE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9090, 15 May 1908, Page 4

DOUBLY UNWISE.

In legislation of a sumptuary character, such as local option in connection with the liquor traffic, involving as it may do serious financial loss to men who are carrying on a trade which has ever had the sanction of law, it is reasonable that the voting power required to sweep away that trade should bo gre iter than a bare majority. In New Zealand and other countries the Legislatures have decided that a three-fifths majority shall be required to carry no-license, and the bulk of the electors, im-lud-in"? those engaged in the liquor traffic, have accepted this as a fair voting basis. The Prohibition party and (he churches in the dominion are now making a struggle—-unwisely, we think —to secuve no-license upon a bare majority vote. It is, to our mind, unwise, from the point of view of the Prohibitionists, upon two grounds. First, because any attempt to unduly increase the power to crush the liquor ttailie is likely to cause a reaction in public sentiment; and secondly, it would probably tell against the no-license party, because it would follow that the electors would also bo given equal right to l'pstoro licenses in no-license districts upon a bare majority. As it is, if it is a hard light to secure a no-license victory, it is rendered just as nurd— if, from the circumstances, not harder—for the publicans to restore {he status quo at the next election campaign. Wo observe that the Presbyterian Assembly of New South Waler; hus just negatived a motion in favour of a bare majority rule under the Local Option Bill, and adopted an amendment in favour of the retention of the three-iifths majority. In this the Assembly displayed sound sense, and showed that while they are eager to abolish tho liquor evil, they are not prepared to adopt unfair and unwise tactics.