A Political Social.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3146, 22 July 1901, Page 2

A Political Social.

LABOUR AND PROHIBITION.

Per Press Association

CHRISTCHURCH, July 21,

At a social given to Mr Smith, the successful candidate at the late election, by the electors last night, Mr T. E. Taylor suggested that the prohibitionists and workers should combine at the next General Election. He said that there had been a marked change in politics during the past 10 years in the attitude of the Trades and Labour Council. Mr McCullough, ex-president of the Council, was at one with the speakers of the party in regard to the moral issue it had introduced into politics, and so was the Council itself. Mr Taylor said that ne looked forward to the time when two such large forces would amalgamate. The prohibitionists joining hands with the wageearners would sweep the poll at the General Election next year. It might appear that Mr Smith’s supporters were running against the labour candidate at the byeelection, and that there had been antagonistic, but if the Council scrutinised Mr Smith’s actions, it would find that ha would by voice and vote do as much fop the workers and interests they had at heart, as would he done by any nominee from their ranks. Perhaps Mr Smith would carry more influence in the House than a straight-out labour man would carry. Mr Taylor claimed that prohibition was a strong working-man’s movement, and his/party should not be severed politically from the large percentage of the wage-earning class. To bring about the proposed amelioration, if necessary, the prohibitionists should make concessions,' and he did not see why they should not work hand in hand with the Trades Council, and return to Parliament men who would stand firmly against any monopoly in the colony, which should be deprived of parliamentary representation. Mr Smith, in following Mr Taylor, sai<i that the proposed amalgamation would have, to be veiy carefully considered, as any amalgamation to oppose any other sectionof the community must be carefully up-, proached. Speaking from a temperancestandpoint, he said that they would haveto be very careful what they did iu that respect. They had sympathisers in all' sections, and should consider whether they

were going to make the prohibition movement a deliberate political party on one side of the House. He was expressing those opinions so that it would not he said that he had agreed to any such suggestion without giving it due consideration. He would like time to think the matter over.