OBJECTIONS TO VOTING PROHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3036, 5 November 1908, Page 5

OBJECTIONS TO VOTING PROHIBITION.

(To the Editor).

j Sir,—l Object to voting for Prohibition on the following grounds:—* (1). Prohibition does not prohibit (Prohibitionists admit this), consequently I object to voting for a sham. (2). I believe in a licensed traffic and preference to an ur.licensed traffic in liquor, therefore I object to voting for Prohibition.

(3). If Prohibition did prohibit I would not vote for it, because Ido not believe in extreme regulation of

any kind. (4). I object to the so-called NoLicensejpropositions because it is not No-License, but prohibition of the strictest order which is the real object of the No-License Party. (5). I believe in moral suaaion and not in attempting to dragoon one section of the public into behaving in a way that another section considers virtuous.

(6). I object to the absurdity of attempting to make men moral, either by Act of Parliament, or by a vote of the public.

(7). I object to No-License because it is an entirely wrong way to deal with drunkenness—No-License pure, and simple will .never decrease drunkenness, although I admit that it does decrease the number of convictions for drunkenness.

(8). I object to the tyrannical coercion of thousands in order that a fractional minority, who cannot exercise ordinary control over thtmselves, may be allegedly benefited. (9). I object to Prohibition because I believe in justice—a majority has no right to coerce a minority, simply because it is a majority.

(10) i 1 object to Prohibition because the Prohibition. Party does not favour compensation to either brewers or licensees.

(11). I object to Prohibition because that Party, if. successful, will become the ruling political.party. (12). I object to Prohibition be-^ cause it should not be a political question, whereas it exercises a greater influence ifl politics than any other question. There are other reasons 1 coutd give, but I think the above list will be quite sufficient to satisfy anyone that in voting against; Prohibition he is doing what is right, both in the interest of the State and himself. —I am, etc., ANTI-PROHIBITTONIST.