MORE ABOUT THE LIBERALLIQUOR ALLIANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 162, 30 November 1896, Page 5

MORE ABOUT THE LIBERALLIQUOR ALLIANCE.

"Democracy on its Trial" was the title of an address delivered by the Rev. W. A. Evans iv his service at the Forward Movement Hall last night, the trial alluded to being, of course, next Friday's" poll. , The people of New Zealand were, said Mr. Evans, asked to determine what was to be their ideal for the future — whether it was to be allegiance to the dicta of a Party or the blended unity of righteousness, truth, and love— whether it was to be the opinion of a faction or the will of God. The three essentials of" good government were— (l) A wise consideration of the wants of the people ; (2) a just provision for the satisfaction of these wants ; and (3) an effective carrying out of the provision made. To secure good government our representatives must be men of ■wisdom, of justice, and of power. Ethical principles must be supreme over all other considerations, for where Party considerations prevailed good government was rendered impossible. This was the whole case agaist Party government as at present constituted —it reduced Democracy into government by faction, and threw the door open to all kinds of evils which •undermined justice and corrupted the very springs of our national life. The effects of this system were to be seen in the unveracities that characterised the speech of many would-be representative of the people ; tho nauseating reiteration of platitudes that were as irrelevant as they were untrue — for example, the desperate attempts of candidates pledged to the Liquor-Liberal Association to prove to the people that they stood as free and independent of all Party organisations. And how did they prove it? By vilifying their opponents and posing as the champions of orthodoxy. True religion needed no such champions — it was its own evidence. Mr. Evans claimed that his statement of the previous Sunday that the Liberal Party in New Zealand had changed places with the old Tory Party of the past was being proved more and more conclusively as the electidn canun%s-s£nt on. Could it be denied that tfcvfexpenses of the £<iberty Electoral League in the election were largely

met by contributions from the liquor trade ? Would it be denied that the two candidates who were to be elected by the Electoral League were known before the election took place? Were not some of the canvassers engaged in the interests of the Electoral League also canvassing in the interests of the Liquor Party in regard to the local option poll ? "With these facts in view, it was difficult to see how any other conclusion could be arrived at than that the candidates chosen by the Electoral League at Thomas's Hall were also the candidates of the Liquor Party. He was told that some of the people who were allowed to vote at that meeting were practically children ; also that many men were known to have used more than one voting-paper ; and the testimony of some of the worthiest leaders of the Labour Party given direct to him (Mr. Evans) was that the meeting was packed, and packed for a. purpose. From all tb,is evidence it was clear that the Liberal Party had been captured by the liquor ring— that it had abdicated the crown of Liberalism and assmucl that of Toryism ; that it was endeavouring to link together elements which were antagonistic and irreconcilable — viz., the Bible, Beer, and Labour. Mr. Evans urged all Christians to lift up the whole question of politics into, the light of Christianity, and give their sympathy and co-operation to the j men, whatever their Party, who were nearest to their ideal. The vote to he taken next Friday on the licensing question is not, perhaps, so simple an issue as it might be made, and in -view of the hurry and bustle incident to election proceedings, a word of warning may be advisable, so that electors may make up their minds beforehand. There are three issues placed on the option paper — * "I vote that the number of licenses existing in the district continue. " I vote that the number cif licenses existing in the district be reduced. " I vote that no licenses be granted in the district." The voter is directed to strike out one or two of the three propositions.', If none, or if all, are struck out, the paper is void. The voter is to strike out the propositions which he does not wish to be carried. As the option is given of striking out one proposition only, it is quite probable, and exceedingly possible, that a number of the papers will have the second line only struck 'out, thus voting in favour of two contradictory j propositions. How will the Returning j Officers deal with these? They do not | come within the specified terms which make them void, and a Returning Officer will not be competent to decide which way the voter intended to vote. Doubtless the votes will go to swell the opposing numbers. It is quite possible that in some districts these papers, being counted as effective votes, will turn ihe scale in the proportion of electors voting, so as to make prohibition effective. • The afternoon of Friday next, being the day on wlncE'tho local option poll is taken, is, by the "Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Amendment Act of 1895, made a public half-holiday from mid-day, and all publichouses must he closed from noon to 7 o'clock in the evening of that day. Messrs. Fisher and Wilson inaugurated a series of midday meetings at the wharf approach to-day, and some two or three hundred people assembled. The proceedings at one time threatened to become lively. Owing to some remarks made by Mr. Wilson concerning Mr. C. Cross, the latter climbed into the express and dared Mr. Wilson to repeat the statement, and he was followed into the, vehicle by another man, who wanted to " chuck him out." The crowd declined to hear Mr. Cross, who thereupon said he would reply to Mr. Wilson on the platform at the Skating Rink tonight. Mr. Wilson spoke more particularly on matters relating to seamen, and Mr. Fisher abused Sir Robert Stout, and made his usual appeal to the crowd to vote for the "ticket." Mr, Malcolm M'Leod has been nominated as an additional candidate for Geraldine. The Tuapeka Times lias it on private information from a supporter of Mr. Robert M'Nab, the member for Mataura, that the contest for that electorate is going to be a very close one, and that " unfortunately," so says the correspondent, "it seems that Mr. Riohardson will get in." The supporters of Mr. M'Nab are going to the extreme in their eagerness to get their man returned, and importing a rancour and bitterness into the eleotion which, though not unusual, is regrettable. AS Pahautanui on Saturday afternoon Mrs. and Dr. Newman delivered short addresses to the women electors of the district. There was a good attendance, and Mrs. Mabey was in the chair. A vote of thanks and confidence in Dr. Newman, and of thanks to Mrs. Newman was carried unanimously. The following addresses will be given tonigh :— City— Sir R. Stout at St. Paul's School, Tinakori-road ; Mr. Menteath at the Primitive Methodist School, Newtown ; Mr, Atkinson at the Alhambra Hall, Newtown ; the Premier at the Taita at 7.30, and at the Skating Rink -with the Labour candidates ; Mr. Hhtcheson at the corner of Boulcbtt-street; Mr. Fraser at the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Molesworthstreet; Mr. Powell, opposite Leydon's smithy, Tinakori-road. Wellington Suburbs —Mr. Wilford at the Parochial Hall, Karori; Mr. Hislop, at^the State School, Newtown. Otaki— Mr.%ield at the Upper Hutt. An address by Mr. Menteath will be delivered to-morrow evening at Benge's corner, Ppjhill Gully, and another on Wednesday night at the Theatre Royal. On Wednesday afternoon Mr. Menteath will A%dress his women workers, and his several committees will meet on Wednesday night. A meeting of Dr. Newman's combined committees at the Hutt (men and women) is to be held at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lower Hutt, to-night. Mr. Duthie will address the electors of the Lower Hutt in the Oddfellowt* Hall on Wednesday night. Mrs. Newman will give an address to the women electors of Pahautanui on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday night Dr. Newman will speak to the electors at Whiteman's Valley iv the schoolhouse. Mr. Wilford's Brooklyn-Ohiro Committees meet this evening at the old farmhouse, Brooklyp. Mr. John Duthie's withdrawal from the contest for Wellington City is formally announced to-day. An appeal is being made to the supporters of Mr. T. W. Hislop for the use of vehicles to convey electors to the poll. [bt telegbaph— own correspondent.] Mastebton, This Day. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby stated at a meeting at Taueru that he had instructed his solicitors to proceed against the proprietors of X Raj's and the Wairarapa Daily for criminal libel. Greytown North, This Day. Mrs. Seddon comes here to-morrow in response to an invitation of the Government supporters in the Wairarapa. • [bt telegraph— press association.] Lyttelton, This Day. The Premier addressed a crowded meeting at Lyttelton on Saturday night. He spoke for nearly two hours on similar lines to his I other recent public speeches, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. A motion expressing confidence in the Government was also carried unanimouly. Of great moment to the cycling public. — At last our famous machines nave arrived, ex Gothic— a shipment of m Spaldings, said to eclipse all other American machines. Orders for most of those have been booked, a fow on hand for iBaJo. Buyers call early. HobartBird machines expected daily. Luke and Sons, Limited.— A»vx.