LOCAL OPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 270, 12 November 1909, Page 3

LOCAL OPTION.

THE NEW PROPOSALS. SOME LOCAL OPINIONS. The fact that the basis of an arrangement has been arrived at between the representatives of the Liqnor trade and those of the noIJeerrse party came as a surprise to many people, who were not behind the scenes, and much discussion has followed the publication of the proposals. One gentleman, a probable aspirant for political honours, when asked if he thought the measure was likely to pass the House, remarked: "It will be such a great thing to get rid of the question on the i next political campaign, that now the i two parties have agreed on a measure, I should think all the members will be ! willing to pass it through the House without much discussion. In some in- ] stances, both in the trade and also 1 amongst the No-license party, there seems to be a feeling that great points have been gained, while in other directions the feeling is that one side or the other has gained too much. At the ; same time, there appears to be a disposition to remain thoroughly loyal to the acts of the representatives of each i party with a disinclination to express • any view upon the decision arrived at. In seme instances the reply was that the least said the better." NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE. Mr. Wesley Spragg (president of the New Zealand Alliance), when asked his opinion upon the matter, said that he wished to emphasise the fact that neither the Liquor party nor the Nolicense party first a.pproached the Hon. ■ Dr. Findlay with the idea of arriving ;at any compromise.. "The requireI merits of the 'New Zealand Alliance ; are." said Mr. Spragg. "set out in the several bills tabled by Mr. G. Laurenson. M.P. The Prime" Minister had informed a deputation that these could not receive attention during the present session. Notwithstanding this official statement, it was our party's intention to press for them. Our present preponderating strength and the unanimity of our party warranted us in churning that the disgracefully unfair handicap of requiring us to get 50 per cent more votes than our opponents to secure a poll should be at once removed. Even under the new proposals we shall require to secure 22 per cent more votes than the Liquor party. Our final claim, a-s a matter of principle, was and is a democratic majority vote, with immediate results. We did not abandon these principles by agreeing to Dr Findlay's suggestion—rather. I should say. to the result of his negotiations— air.houjrh we naturally hope, and indeed believe, that the compromise agreed upon will be sufficient to secure"" the abolition of the liquor traffic within a short period. f>f course, in such a case as has been reported, both sides conceded points which they very much desired not to give up. I think what has been decided upon is practically what would have been agreed upon by Parliament if it had -pent a month or two in debating the question. That statement will be generally accepted. That Parliament should have been saved so much work and so much of its previous time, with the same result being achiev cd. is. I think, a striking triumph for Dr. Findlay. Some members of our party will be dissatisfied that we are not to have bare majority rule, and I sympathise with them. The deferring or the operation of successful polls will also be objected to. while the elimination ot the reduction issue will of course, be felt by many of our people as a serious loss. On the other hand the reduction of the required maioritv to 55-lOOths. and the inclusion of the Dominion vote, although a victorious poll upon the latter will be deferred lor five years, is a distinct gain. Indeed this delay, being equal to a lonnotice to quit, will commend itself to a very large number ot - vo . Pr - , would object to dealing summarilY with the trade.* and in that manner will not be altogether to the disadvantage of the abolition party. Of course. "with the altered conditions, both sides wTO tight with renewed vi-jour. We ar e looking for an early victory, which, we think, is overdue, and which we believe cannot be long delayed by any pollTble