MR ISITT ON NO-LICENSE.

North Otago Times, 23 May 1908, Page 4

MR ISITT ON NO-LICENSE.

—* —T . Per Press Association. Ashbui'lon, May 22., ( Tho Rev. Frank W, Isitt, secretary | of tho New Zoaland Alliance, to-day told a representative of the Guardian Hint tho No-liconso Party throughout tho Dominion were hopeful, with res- ( peel to tho coming local option poll, and wero working with an energy that justified hopefulness. The party recognised lliat it had an Unknown quantity to deal with in the immigrants of the pnst thrco ycnr.s, mul fully appreciated the strength of their opponents, but still felt that the pros ent outlook was better -than that of any previous similar occasion. Ho contended that there had been a steady development of the no-liconso sontimeufc throughout tho British Empire and in America, mid that tliis could not lull to carry weight in the Dominion, lie was particularly hopeful in regard to TarnnnM, but feared thai part of Tnumarauui being attached to the, Waitara electorate might spoil, what might otherwiso pr o vo to be a no-liceuso provincial district. Speaking in favor of tho Ijnro majority, while not mentioning Ashburlon, ho said he did not see how democratic principles could bo reconciled with any other position, or that anything could be said in favor ot the advantage that the three-fifths majority gave his jiarty of lioldii)}! nil electorate by a minority ! vote. A Dominion option, in addition at present was required, determinable by a baro majority, Candidates at the ensuing elections would be presented with a scries of questions in this connection. In reply to an enquiry as to how his party li.''cd the recent dclivcrnnco of Mr M'Gownn ir regard to clubs, Mr Isitt said, "Of course wo arc exceedingly sorry that the Minister of Justice should go out of his way to speak of working men's clubs as beneficial institutions. It is within my own knowledge that in one of tho clubs the half-yearly report showed that, over £SOOO ,*md been spent on liquor and less than £lO on literature. In that duly the club charter obliges tho club to close its bar at ten p.m., when tho city hotel bars hro closed, but members can drink till morning by taking advantage of the locker system, m'd not a few of them do so.'' iSpc..: In* generally of this Cabinet, he concluded, "Wo hold absolutely nloot from political parties, mid I have nothing to say of the present Government that I should not ex- ' poet to say if the Opposition took office. I do say though that I haven't the least fear that we should bf : cheated in any way by tho presort Government, n s wo undoubtedly have been by some,"