EVIL OF VOTE-SPLITTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3389, 2 December 1911, Page 7

EVIL OF VOTE-SPLITTING.

THE SECRET HOPES OF “THE TRADE.”

Every elector -who has given even a cursory attention to the advertisements of “Tlpe Trade” must have discovered that while ’ Domi nioni Prohibition is feared, “tflie* Trade” much more dreads the awful possibility of Local No-License being carried. The latter, will take effect in six months l , whereas the former will not for four years, and ‘ ‘the Trade;’ ’ hopes that much- may eventuate in- that interval by Parliamentary action “The Trade’s” canvassing efforts have largely been in the direction of attempting' to split the votes, whenever the ageht-s have- met with people whoi have temperance convictions and deplore the open bars. “The Trade’s main hope is that very few people will vote for both issues- A particular hope •possesses their hearts that the Moderates at- least will only east one vote for the Temperance cause. Temperance workers, who are fighting the people’s battle, would, like to ask all reasonable electors to consider the result of allowing their votes to be split by the liquor ring’s subtle methods. TEMPERANCE VOTERS STUDY THESE STARTLINC FACTS. 1. The Temperance Party have to get three-fifths of the votes cast i;n. order to win-—6O out of every 100 polled. 2. Suppose that 40 cut of every 60 electors vote both Dominion Prohibition and Local No-License, and that 10 of the remaining 20 vote Dominion only, and the remaining 10 vote Local NoLicense only, the people’s cause would he lost. That wcfuld only give 50 for Dominion Prohibition and 50 for NoLicense out of every hundred votes polled, and yet 60 out of every 100 would have voted against the ' open bars. This shows the evil results of vote-splitting. 3. Suppose, again, that 40 voted for Dominion Prohibition only and 40 for Local No-License only, and 10 for both Dominion and Local, the cause would still lie lost, even although 59 votes had been cast for Dominion Prohibition and 59 more for Local Nic-Lioense. Though 99 people out of 100 voted for closing the bars, their votes would be nullified. How all-important then is it to use all our voting power, and strike out the top line on both papers.. 4- Yet again, if 30 out of every 100 electors who have Temperance convictions wish to vote for both Local NoLicense and Dominion Prohibition, and 20 more of the 100 were to vote. Dominion only, and another 20 No-License only, that would give a Temperance voting strength of 70 out of every 100 voters, and yet either Local No-License nctr Dominion Prohibition wfyuld lie carried, and the people’s cause mould -be lost-. 5. It follows, then, as surely as the night follows the day that the only sure and safe way in which to vote ef fectiva and prevent vote-splitting is to vote, for both issues. There is safety in no other plan. AVe have had it’•.'Anted out to us bv ’’moderate” men that in splitting the votes in the way shown above lies the one hope of the “Trade” both here and elsewhere. 6. In order that you may not be used cunningly by “the Trade.” will you be persuaded for the sake of our common humanity to follow the safe course and use all yo'ur voting power and so— VOTE FOR DOMINION PROHIBITION AND LOCAL NO-LICENSE. by STRIKING OUT THE TOP LINE ON EACH VOTING PAPER. (Published by arrangement with the No-License League.)