PROHIBITION?

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 13, 15 July 1918, Page 9

PROHIBITION?

THE MODEST "MODERATE."

On behalf of the liquor trade, Mr. A. S. Duncan mad© a statement at Christchurch in regard to recent remarks by the Hon. G. W. Russell.

Mr. Duncan said that Mr. Russell, in effect, had stated that an agreement had been come to between the New Zealand Alliance and the Trade that a poll should be taken on the question of Prohibition with compensation on the lines recommended by the National Efficiency Board, and as presented to Parliament during the session of 1917. To that suggestion he gave • a most emphatic and positive denial. No arrangements had been entered into or considered, and nothing was further from the mind of the Trade than that a poll should be taken at this juncture on the liquor question. The Trade viewed the present agitation as only another move on the part of the Alliance to carry out its avowed platform of total prohibition, under the cloak of "win the war." Although the Alliance now stated that it was willing to concede to the Trade the principle of compensation, Mr. Duncan continued, it left out of its consideration the great Moderate Party, which, ever since the fight started, had held the balance of power. It would be monstrous to think that the Trade- should fall so low in decency as to agree with the Alliance to accept a vote on Prohibition with i compensation on a- bare majority simply to save' its own' skin, and this against those who had always been the Trade's friends. So long as the proposals advanced from any quarter failed to include fair treatment of all sections of the community, just so long was the Trade prepared to fight the position. „ Mr. Duncan added that at the present time the Trade had under review the proposals of the Alliance, and was preparing to meet the position in due , conrse.