THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1911. CONFUSING THE ISSUES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10491, 30 November 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1911. CONFUSING THE ISSUES.

The- opinion expresseu oyfiir James Carroll' a day or two *back tihat the ttme has arrived when the poll on the licensing questdom s-houflid be taken, oil a day separate from tihat of the general) election,is one wihich will be .sliared' by a Targe' \sectiton of tihe community. Tlhere were two reasons which, iii the first place, influenced Pprlame-nt an submitting tine IKtoenis*ing question to the' ©Hectors- km the day of the general: ejections'. The, first wiasi .that, iti would tend to securte a heavier poll, and tlhe second that it would involve a minimum of' expense. It is argued by a great niumber of people that the result of the holding of it'he' com Mined poll's on l the on© day hias been to make the issues iln. one subsidiary to those of the otiher. Tlhere is adtmilttfedflSy a good' deal to fortify this contentitau. Experience ihiais .shown that a oon»s'idetnabte nAimfber of extremfiists on botih sides liiave- allowed their enjthansiia&nx in whait may be regarded ais a minor issue to imtfluejice tihieiir judgment iai the major. Tlliis cannot be lield tio be a good tilling for the comnruniity. Meni who are effected to represent the people in Parliament should be chosen on account' of their aibifliitiy to deal with the great national) paiobtlenis which are from time to time before the country, and not because .they are sympathetic wMi amy one particular cause. The contention tbait people wouH not comie to the poll to vote ow tiie licensing question alone caminot well be saistalined, for there is alireadjy provision' that a vote must be taken whether there is a contest or not. If a licensing poll can be advantageously taken at Gisborne, where there i» no contest, it can simlilanfly be [taken in other electorate ». Tlie question of expense is not a serious, one, for the amount involved lin taking the licensing poll' on it separate day would not be much greater than, it is- at present. Oil' the; broad question of public policy, tihere wouM appear' to be good and sufficient reaiswjisi wiry >t!he> polls should be taken on isepatraibo days, in this connection, an lanoumaifly in the existing law serves to 1 emphasize the ne'cosistt'tty for a change. The Legislature! Act mlakes •lit an offence to ply lviired veHiioltes to convey electors' to the .ppill for a gen- • -.lVal l odtectoou. There is nlotbing in. Ji© Jaw, however, -lo prevent vehicles, iieiog hired' to convey electors to the ioemsing poll. Thus, the provisions! •:it' one Act are defeated by of another. ■