BUT NOT DOWNHEARTED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 141, 11 December 1914, Page 8

BUT NOT DOWNHEARTED.

Asked by a Post representative this morning as to whether he had anything to say upon the results of yesterday's polls, as so far disclosed, the Rev. John Dawson, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, said that as the figures were incomplete he could not give a definite idea as to tho nature of the result. He could therefore only ma,ke a general statement, but would be glad to summarise the position when he had the full data. "I am," he said, "very pleased to find that there are only a. very small percentage of three-fifths men elected to the House, so that we have some hope of getting legislation that is more in the direction of democracy and fair play. I have only 'one more point x> stress at present. The thing that I think is most to be deplored is the attitude of the public press on a great national matter affecting the whole people. The system of advertising to which they have become party has undoubtedly misled thousands of people. The campaign of innuendo and misrepresentation indulged in has been one that must recoil on the heads of the guilty parties. In this connection I particularly refer to the improper and misleading use made of the remarks of Sir Robert Stout, who, as everyone should know, has been a consistent supporter through the whole of his public career of majority rule on the liquor Suestiok. In Parliament in 1893, when ie three-fifths handicap was imposed on the people, he fought it to the very last. He has never swerved from that principle and would no doubt make his position plain to-day if his official position would permit him to speak on a subject of this character." NOT PERMANENTLY CHECKED. Tho Rev. W. J. Comrie, chairman of the executive of the New Zealan4 Alliance, said : " There appears to have been a falling off in the vote for NoLicense and Prohibition. I am not surprised at it under the present circumstances; and I do not look upon it as an indication that the growth of the Prohibition vote has been permanently checked. I recognise that all giflat reforms are achieved' slowly and through many difficulties and occasional reverses. ' It's a long, long way to Tipperary/ but we are not downhearted."