THE PREMIER AND LICENSINGLEGISLATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVIII, Issue 11368, 8 September 1897, Page 4

THE PREMIER AND LICENSINGLEGISLATION.

A pew days ago we published two or three extracts from an address delivered by the Rev L. M, Isitt in Melbourne, iu which the Premier was described in most opprobrious terms as an interested ally of the liquor trade who had been forced, much against his will, to make a number of concessions to the Prohibition Party. "We notice that the Same extracts havebeen reprinted by the Wellington Post, and that they have attracted the attention of the Rev Edward Walker, the late organiser of the New Zealand Alliance and a gentleman who has probably done more during the past decade than any other individual in the colony to advance the cause of temperance He has never stood very high in the estimation of the prohibitionists, for the simple reason that he has always deprecated the extravagance of much of their language and the impropriety of some of their methods; but he has consistently supported every movement that promised to assist in the total suppression of the liquor traffic. It is no secret now that he was largely instrumental in securing the legislative concessions for which the more rabid prohibitionists are taking credit, and that he is regarded by the Government as the representative man among the reformers whose demands are supported by a large section of public opinion. In, these circumstances the letter from Mr Walker which we reurint in another column will be read with more than ordinary interest. It is a generous defence of Mr Seddou from an altogether unexpected quarter, which should convince every unbiassed reader that the Premier deserves none of the offensive epithets that were heaped upon him by Mr Isitt in Melbourne, We cannot refrain from quoting one paragraph which exactly meets the criticism that has been hurled from every prohibition platform in the colony since Mr Seddon undertook the amendment of the licensing laws. “We have,” Mr Walker writes, “ a great deal to thank Mr Seddon for in the matter of temperance legislation, much of which be would never have conceded to those who think no policy effective with him but that of bullying. The sooner temperance people protest against the utter unfairness with which he has been treated by certain persons in this connection the better for the temperance cause. He has never hypocritically pretended any personal sympathy with prohibition, but he has maintained that the people must rule in this matter so far as public opinion will support legislation, enabling them to do so. The stoutest prohibitionist statesmen when in power in this colony could get no further, otherwise they are responsible that we did not get complete popular control long ago.” We dare say Mr Walker has counted the cost of this frank declaration of his opinion, and is prepared to be classed with ourselves amoug the friends and advocates of “ an iniquitous traffic,” hut he can hardly have realised the force of the rebuke he has administered to one of his former associates. ltjg rl quit«

true, however, that if “prohibitionist statesmen,” when in power, had been half as sincere and courageous as Mr Seddon it would not have been left to their successors to initiate the experiment for which their deluded friends are clamouring.