SUGGESTED COMBINATION OF PROHIBITIONSTS AND WORKERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12101, 22 July 1901, Page 5

SUGGESTED COMBINATION OF PROHIBITIONSTS AND WORKERS.

(Pkii United Press Association.) CIIRISTCIII'IiPII, duly 21, At a social given to .Mr Smith.'the sno ccssfnl candidate at the City election last night. Mr T. K. Taylor suggested that the prohibitionists and workers should combine at tho next general election. He said there Was n marked change in pniilie- during the past 10 years and in the altitude of 'tho Trades and Labour Council. Mr M'Cullough, ex-president of the council, was at one wiili the speaker's party in regard to the past moral issue it had introduced into politics, and so was Hie council itself. .Mr Taylor said he looked forward to tho lime when two such large forces would amalgamate. The pi'ohibitiouisls joining hands with the v.-age-earners would sweep the poll at the general election next year. It might appear Mr Smith s supporters were running against, a Labour candidate at the byolecHun. and (lirre had lipph autjigouis in. but if tho eonnril senuinisod .Mr •Smith's actions it would fmd tlmt h<> would by voire nnd voln do as much for (ho workers nut] (ho iutoivsls tlioy Iwd sit heart a* would be done by any nominpp from their own nudes. lVrhaps'Mr Smith would carry mnro influence in tho Houso Uiah a s-lnnglit-mit Labour man would rnrrv. Mr LijiOr clai mod that prohibition was a strong working man's movement, and his party should not bo severed politically from a large percentage of tho wage-earning class to brin" about the proposed amelioration. If n cees° sary. the prohibitionists should make concessions, nnd he did not see why lliey Should liol work liaml-in-baml with tho trade- Council and return to Parliament men who would slaml firmly against the only monopoly in the colony which should on (Inpnved of parliamonlary ropresfcnlation. -Mr Smith, in following Mr Taylor, said the proposed amalgamation would' have to bo ven- carefully considered, as any amalgamation to oppose any other section' of tho comiininity must bo carefully approached. ►Speaking from a temperance standpoint, they would have to be very careful what ,?y ,1,( ! 'tt that respect. They had sympathisers ill all sections, and should consider whether they were going to make the prohi hi (ion movement a deliberoto political party on one side of the House. Ho was expressing those opinions so that it would not 1)0 said he had agreed to any such sii"jrestion without giving it- due consideration. vvollW I'te time to think the matter over.