Wet Mistake

News that New Zealand had "gone wet" by a 100,000 majority of referendum votes was hailed with hosannas, last week, by wet U. S. news organs. The Republican but wet New York Herald Tribune editorialed: "In thus abandoning prohibition, after an extended trial, New Zealand follows the example of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, New South Wales, Norway, Turkey and Russia. . . .

"The world is growing wetter, whatever may be considered the trend of prohibition sentiment in the dominion of Uncle Sam."

Aroused by this and scores of similar editorials the Anti-Saloon League, vigilant, called attention to historical facts which prove that most despatches from New Zealand concerning the referendum, last week, were either poppycock in the first place, or were misinterpreted upon arrival.

The facts are: 1) New Zealand has never had national prohibition; 2) every three years since 1896 there has been a referendum in which voters have expressed preference for: A) free sale; or B) rationed sale as in Sweden; or C) total prohibition.

Nine years ago total prohibition was carried by a plurality. A majority would have been needed to put it into effect and so it was not and never has been put into effect--despite erroneous despatches.

In the referendum of last week free sale was carried by a majority, but since New Zealand always had had free sale,* the vote signified merely that voters are more wet-minded than they were nine years ago. Three years hence another referendum will be held and so ad infinitum.

In the New Zealand Parliamentary election, which was held last week simultaneously with the referendum, the support of Prime Minister Joseph Gordon Coates was cut from 53 seats to 28 in a house of 80.

No less sensational than the Government's loss was the win scored by big, sleek, masterful Sir Joseph Ward, who was Prime Minister from 1906 to 1912. On the eve of the present election he united the Liberals and Nationalists (who had previously mastered but eleven seats) into his new Union Party and won, last week, a total of 26 seats--only two less than are held by the Government.

Outstanding are 20 Laborites and six Independents. The tendency of the Laborites is more toward Mr. Coates than Sir Joseph. Nonetheless the Government's previous majority has been destroyed, the way for dickering lies open, and many who know Sir Joseph's mastery of that art expect to see him again Prime Minister.

* There are certain commonsense restrictions, such as that saloons must close before six p. m.