The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1908. NO-LICENSE AND POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2230, 24 October 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1908. NO-LICENSE AND POLITICS.

Mr. Clayton did well to draw the attention of electors last night to the fact that no-lieense is not one of the political issues in the general election. It is one of the anomalies of New Zealand affairs at the present time that a subject which lias for the time being'been taken out of tlio field of legislative possibilities should still remain the most disturbing element in the political campaign. In. very many instances the question that presents its .mind to the elector is not as to the candidate’s views on the political questions of the day, bub whether lie will announce himself as 1 in sympathy with the aspirations of the no-license party. This is the .attitude that Mr. Clayton deplores, and in doing so ho points out that tlio issue has been transferred from Parliament for the direct voto of the people, and there is no suggestion of any fresh legislation on the matter. In the main this is undoubtedly the correct view, yet at the same time there is something to be said for the person who, while voting no-license, is likewise careful that his iiolitical vote shall be registered for a candidate whose views are absolutely sound as to the .right of the people to decide thp issue pf the liquor trade by di;wt

vote. Though not at all likely, it is quite conceivable that wore the advocate® of no-license to relax their attention in regard to tho legislative connection with the no-license issue, a \ majority of members might be returned whoso sympathies would be entirely with the representatives of the liquor trade. In such an event, the licensing law, if not actually tope ailed, might bo amended in such a way as to seriously affect the privileges at present enjoyed in this respect, For instance, it is not so since a proposal was made that the licensing poll should bo taken only once in six years, which would manifestly have proven a retrograde stei>. By such means as this, and by a lax administration of the Justice Department, the democratic features of the present law might be very seriously imperilled. It is not wise to lay too much stress upon tho improbability of any legislature daring to tamper with the present law; the action of the Government in deliberately breaking faith with the tenants of grazing runs, as forcibly demonstrated by Mr. Clayton himself last night, is an apt demonstration that, given sufficient power, a Government is apt to do anything it chooses. Truly, it may bo said in this connection: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”