THE NO-LICENSE SET-BACK.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 142, 18 December 1905, Page 7

THE NO-LICENSE SET-BACK.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Unquestionably the champions of cold water have received a "set-back," and they do not quite realise the measure oil their failure, or what is in prospect as tho result of the deliberate compact between the Liquor party and the Seddonites. There is no doubt tho licensed victuallers worked the elections systematically and thoroughly, and at a tremendous cost in money. They deserve their success, whatever it may be. Just how well the campaign was worked may be illustrated by what took place in Newtown. Two men were appointed to superintend the work in the A'ewtown electorate, and were allowed £30 each per week for the -expenses. These two engaged a full complement of canvassers and by the end of November they knew exactly how every individual on the roll would vote both on the Local Option issues, and the Parliamentary representation. It is stated that the two organisers cleared £8 a week each, and in addition received a bonus each of £75, and they earned their money. Ihe same thoroughness was observed in the other electorates, and to this more than to anything else does Mr. Duthie owe his crushing defeat. fhe Liquor and Seddon parties do not play the game for love and affection. The Liquor people have fulfilled their part of the contract, and have given Mr. Seddon a House with about fifty-nine pawns. He can do as he likes, but he must complete his share of the bargain with the Liquor party. State control, the taking of the Local' Option vote every six years, and the infamous clause of no-license-no-liquor, are all the possibilities of legislative enactment. Ihe Liquor party has evidently played for a big stake, otherwise it is scarcely likely that they would have "Judas Iscarioted" such staunch supporters as Sir William Russell, John Duthie, Buchanan, M'Guire, Somerville, nnd others. The compact between the two parties above referred to may be rightly accepted by the Opposition as an intimation that "The Trade" has elevated the liquor question into a party shibboleth. It is now Seddon and Liquor. Will the Opposition respond with "Massey and Prohibition ?" The corollary of the new compact just successfully consummated between "The Trade" and the Seddonites is a compact between the Opposition and the Prohibition party, with a~programmo eliminating the reduction issue from the j Local Option poll, and making No-Li-cense effective on a bare majority vote; also the imposition of an additional ling a gallon duty on colonial beer, the proceeds to be ear-marked for pensions and superannuation funds. It is obvious that the Opposition must take some steps, and come to «ome arrangement with the anti-liquor section. Aro they wise enough and courageous enough to play the game? — I am, etc., SHANDY-GAFF. Wellington, 12th December.

There were very large' congregations J yesterday at the special services in connection with the re-opening of the enlarged St. David's Presbyterian Church, Petone. The services were conducted by the Rev. J. Gibson Smith (morning), Rev. A. B. Chappell (afternoon), and Hey Dr. Gibb (evening), who all preached special sermons befitting the occasion. A feature of the services was the singing of the choir. To-day a young married man named Charles Phelp was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on a charge of having committed a criminal offence against- a young girl. The charge was heard by Messrs W. G- Tustin and H. Savage, Justices, who granted accused bail on Mr. Weston's application, in self £50, and two sureties of £50 each. A meeting of creditors in the estate of Oswald Dunnill Avison, cabinetmaker, Petone, who was adjudicated a bankrupt on tho 12th December, was held at the office of the Official Assignee, Mr. Jas. Asihcroft, to-day. The bankrupt, in course of examination, slated that lie had been about a year in business in Petone. When rust he started ho had nothing and was in debt. He could not say how much — under £50. Ilia household expenses were £2 a week. He had a sister-in-law and a wife and two children with him. His debtH, according to his own showing, were £335 17s, his btock in trade £80, and his book debta £50. He .attributed his present position to bad trade at Petone. The meeting adjourned sine die, bankrupt to give, within a fortnight, an account of his receipts and expenditure.