THE "TRADE" & THE NO-LICENSE PARTY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 11 December 1909, Page 2

THE "TRADE" & THE NO-LICENSE PARTY.

THE ABANDONED CONFERENCftE. THE NO-LICENSE STOKY. [United Pbess Association.], ' . ft, WELLINGTON, Friday. In reply to.'the srictufes of the "Trade" with regard to the abandbhmnet of the «~=«v compact, the -Wtf-I/lcerise rarty now put their side of question. Dr. Find Jay.at thi instance' of tha Premier, aproached the -officials of the party to .know if theje was any hope of a modification of the'party's demand which might result in a possible working basis on certain points regarded as vital by both, such as tha question of the majority, Dominion option, the effect of prohibition, and the time when the vote of yie people should take effect; The Governmenbjtnew what the demand of the temperance -party, were, for they were .embodied in a; Bill b'ritke Orffsr Paper, atttj they difl hSt aflctfiat iS«i'2rty should surrender ariy ; ft vital Jrincißle. But with a. view ta. what' Was legislatively possible, 13r ftftFindiw-'ask'edfoKUiet'yri reducible minimum"' oh" the' poifiis - named, 'ft The', temperance; party,'understood that he;was already ;.jn adfct loiicli ■'.' with thejiquor pSrty as. to caiis£pieHi .to believe ; that they ftwere'iikely to consider the poihts';in such ft a way as might make legislation possible. ' ft-.'- '■.'>';'■,•- Upon Reiving 'Dr FindlayV requests which which was regarded as under the' ft seal of confidence,; the officers of thd ■ Alliance put themselves into communica^' tion. with, the; leaders of the, party in different 'parts of ; the Dominion, and finally Mr Spragg and the Be vs. Dawson and^Dewffriey* were 1 /appointed by the ■Executive to'consult^vith Dr'Knmay. .At tKe.:tet mteiyiew/Dr Findlay sub- ft mitt-ed the 'demands of ' the.liqnor" party as follows:— fft — f '-. .-.'.. -^ (1) Npftjpoli;iXi9llj-nor until 1914.. -. (2)Dbmini6n prohibition and local op- . tion frith 55-lOOths maijoftrity^ the" Dominion -vote ■ not 'to take' effect for three - years; or Dominion prohibition by bare majority, nob to take effect for six years; no-license by 3-sths majority, not -' to takefteffect for two years. - ',(3) "Eliminate, reduction issue, ft " (4)' Three issue's on the ballot paper (a) Continuance j ft (b) No-Iricen^e ;• .(cf IJomis nion 'pwlubitio^ftriioftVoferrf.liiWrfgft ifie right to : .vote for more' than oiie issug: These proposals' the No-lacefisfc d&igi gates'.ref used, to : discuss.- ft?,- ; * . After many 'interviefts-'£ri'< agrefenientj ■. which has been published, was'arrived at. After being considered by the -Executive of . the; Alliance, its' representatives were authorised .to sign. The full details could not be stated in precise legal phraseology, and the solicitors representing e4cK" side were appointe'dto' act with Dr*ftEmdi" lays- representatives. . ; ' x-he; Executive ha dnofc been able to consuls witlrftth^^whple ,party,/but*; felt : that they, would •be able to Ei4u're.ife gfii dorseinerit otthe points agreed Si.: 'tfis Allkn<» representatives agwed "to fuF* ■ thef by-all means in their power the pas- - sage,iritOjaw":pi £he*agreemcnt.ftl That meant that 'they undertook 'to secure as far as possible ..the support .of the party, • "Ano..\ye desire to make it clear.- that as the ..signatories >to thie agreement wehave to the utmost of our power; honourably endeavoured to carry out its . terms." Personally, we are still "prepared to standby those terms; " "'■ ':■,•_.-.' ■/..-•.' ft • The party endorsed every item but one of -the agreement. . It. did-^iiotft^hinlcvit.-, a right thing fco ran the risfi'of compel- .' . ling, a 'man, to vote for what he did ft not 'ft want'/in.or^rft.toftsecure what-;/£e. did" ft want, , or else to compel hiniJ'tS: refrain - from ;vqting)^and :therefo«ftftasfted for separate ballot.; pagerS; ,'JsVej|r ■ .-'Sffift'item",;though it meant efiftfregderifig fa great Heal, theftpaity acoeptedft-ft/' ' 'The representatives' of the Executive . do not think the point a crucial-one, and that in any case the . memorandum ittf agreement has not the fwce\p'f -,a legal ft document/.. Further, on this' particiuar , pomt, they fejti that they -had no;' right to fti^fet nponftoveriiiding tlierwisheß of the majority, ' .-■: - > ,'.;„... 'v - V