The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-24
GETS MAJORITY
BUT FAILS TO WIN

Wellington. n. e.. March s3--The
liquor referendum taken in New Zea~
land in December has resulted in tho
defeat of prohibition by very mar
row ma iority.
that recounts are sure to be demand
cd in many of the districts, and it is
possible that the parties may seek Ger
tain decisions in the courts before
finality is reached But reversal Of
the verdict already recorded is i'm
probable, and the liquor trade may be
regarded as having secured another
three years tenure in this country.
1t appears certain that IL the cleo
tors had been able to vote Yes or
No on the direct issue, they would
have carried prob ibition. The liquor
trade has won through the placing of
a third issue on the ballot paper and
the consequent splitting OF votes. The
votes recorded tless few hundred
soldiers votes still to be counted)
were as follows.
Continuance ....... 240.920
state purchase .,..... 50, 131
Prohibition 270.oI6
The law under which the referen~
dunn was taken provides that in order
to be carried an issue must secure an
absolute majority of the votes cast
This meant that prohibition had got
to beat continuance and state pur-
chase put together, though there is no
| doubt At all that some of the voters
who recorded themselves in favor OF
state purchase. would have voted pro-
hibition in preference to the continu-
ancs of the liquor trade o nits present
basis. On the figures given above the
prohibition total Isl .48S Votes short
| OF an absolute majority OF the votes
cast. though 1t has beaten continuance
by aa,156 votes No issue has been
. carried and under the law continu-
ance is deemed to be carried"
! The law provides that the next ref
erandum shall he taken three years
| hence, at the end OF 1922. The pro-
hibitionists will not walt so long IL they
! can secure an earlier vote, and a party
!, backed by the votes OF very nearly
/ half the electors Ii bound to have in
| ftuence with parliament, But the
/ liquor trade is capably represented in
! the New Zealand Legislature, and 1t
may be able to stave off an earlier
referendum. The prohibitionists be-
| lieve that they will be able to win
| rext time even with the present ballot
paper. since many of the people who
voted state purchase will realize now
1 that II is merely a vote-spiitting issue.
But the leaders of the prohibition
! party are determined to secure the
amendment OF the ballot paper either
by the elimination OF state purchase
or by provision for preferential voting
80 that An absolute majority one way
or the other may be assured.
The liquor trade, in the meantime
has its own troubles to face The
closing Of all liquor bars al 6 r. NJ.
adopted as war measure. has become
= l. - L. -, ".
licensing committees, which are dis
triet controlling authorities arc in the
hands OF the prohibitionists in many
cases, and the measure or regulation
they are able 10 apply to the liquor
trade has an effect on profits
Then the law insists that licensed
houses shall provide food and lodging
as well as liquor, and a fairly high
standard of accommodation is de.
manded. The mere saloon. which does
not provide meals or receive travellers
and boardcrs. is unknown in New Yea
land. Men whose licenses may be ter
minated finally, three wears hence. dis
like 10 spend money on the improve
ment of their houses, yet tho naainte-
nance of reasonably good accomm oda
ton is condition of the licenses.
The smallness of the vote for state
purchase was surprise to many beo'
pie. state control Of the liquor traffi,
is proposal that has attracted many
reform ers, and ii seems likely that 6
substantial section Of the voters woult
) select this halfway house as a com
promise between complete prohibition
and the retention of The private In
terests in the liquor trade.
The decisive argument seems 4
have heen that put forward by thc
prohibitienists why pay 10000 o0t
or more for the purchase OF hotels ant
brewcries when YOU can vote tbs
trade right out for nothing and ther
esta blish a state liquor trade if yo,
want ito"
Anyway. state control obviously il
not an issue OF practical politics II
New Zealand If il Is retained on tn,
ballot paper, its purpose will be merel,
To help intrench the liquor trade
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II Voters Advised 10 Register