N.Z. ALLIANCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 May 1928, Page 3

N.Z. ALLIANCE.

DEPUTATION TO PRIME TER-STRAIGHT-OUT VOTE WANTED. (by TKIjEGR a PH —CHESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, May 24. The president of the New Zealand Alliance (Mr. Charles Todd) was the .spokesman of u deputation) several hundred strong which waited on the Prime Minister to-day and presented the resolutions of the -annual conference of the Alliance. Air-. Todd said the organisation was composed of people from all sections of the community and of all shades of political and religious views. They stood for the principle of a bare majority. Air. Coates himself had confessed at the last session that the third issue on the ballot paper was not now a live one, continued Air. Todd. They considered the electors of New Zealand should be able to- settle the liquor traffic on the straight “Yes” or “No” vote.

Air. Todd expressed- the opinion that last year’s Bill had- not had a fair deal. They were robbed of victory in the Upper House. Last year’s Bill had proposed a 55 per cent- majority for the carrying of prohibition. That was a tremendous handicap. The Alliance also looked with disfavour on tlie suggestion that polls on the liquor question should be held at alto-rante general elections. Mr. Todd pointed out that if the life of Parliament- were increased to four or five years there would then be eight to ten years between the polls- on the liquor question, and- in the event of a dissolution a. poll might not be taken for twelve years. That would mean- the disfranchisement of 250,000 new voters.

“Y 'e wish vou to understand, sir, that we are in .deadly earnest. This thing is going to he ended-. We demand that in a democratic country like- New Zealand this very important question he settled by a plain ye-s or no vote.

Airs. T. E. Tavlor. Dominion President of the AY.C.T.U.. mid the general seoretnrv of the Alliance (Air. C. E. Edmonds) also spoke.

PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. Replying to tlie deputation, the Prime- Aiinister assured them! that lie did not take lightly what they said. There were two points of view on tlie question. He had iiis own views, and he recognised the sincerity of those who advocated the prohibition cause. Someone- had to introduce- the Bill, and he had done- so. He had been criticised in regard- to it, the interpretation placed on it being that it was a. Bill favouring the liquor traffic. Mr. Coates assured tlie deputation that the Bill had been introduced with the object of raising the whole question and possibly permitting a compromise to be reached on certain points. In no sense was it a party measure; nor was it considered from a party point of view. In the Upper House, Sir Francis Bell had- taken exactly the same attitude-. The measure represented an effort on his (Mr. Coates’s) part to bring in legislation which .in Iris view was in the interests of the community, and ho was not repentant in regard to that. He had wished after reporting progress to call a series of conferences. Inevitably rival factions were unable lo agree. He then clearly indicated lo Parliament that lie could no longer be associated with the Bill, and lie had left it to Parliament to indicate its will. Air. Coates said that if there wa-s to be a readjustment in the liquor laws he believed- it was necessary to have sufficient public support, behind them to ensure that the law was given effect to. He trusted that whatever was done would be done with a. clear determination on the part of the people to see that the law was maintained.

In regard to the .introduction of a Bill this year. Air. Coates said lie thought it was- almost Uic general -desire of members- of Parliament and of the greater number of people that some attempt- should lie made again to see whether or not the question could be settled. While quite a number of people were- opposed to a- Bill being introduced, lie ■ thought it wa-s his duty to give Parliament a further opportunity to consider the question. (AnphuiJ.se.) In conclusion. Air. Coates referred to- the need for reforms in the licensing law. He declared- that he thought there was ample room for reforms which would redound to the credit of New Zealand.