STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16611, 8 December 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

FROM OUB RESIDENT AGENT. Doc. 5. —Mr. Armstrong drew but a small audience -to hear the advantages of State public-houses, and the majority were there to scoff and did not remain to pray. Tho fact is that his propaganda is now recognised as part of the trade’s defensive campaign. It was sound strategy, but depended much on successful camouflage, whicli has worn thin. Not but what there are temperance people hero and there who still fail to grasp tho. truth that the prospect of State Purchase securing half the votes cast being non-existent, a vote for it becomes one lor Continuance. If State Purchase had a chance of winning it would get no countenance from anyone even remotely interested in the trade. If by a revolution of opinion it should change places with Prohibition in popular I favour, wo might even find the trade | employing sub rosa a lecturer for Prohibition in order to detach votes from the dangerous quarter. There' is a perfect chorus of disclaimers from Liberal-Labour candidates that they will not support a Government that holds office at the mercy of the Reds. I have seen nothing as yet to indicate that they will not seek to pass measures with the assistance of that faction. Should they do so, it may be taken for granted that legislation resulting will show tiie dirty finger marks of the extremists. There will be compromise and concession. Take the question of defence, which may prove to be the question of questions for the people of theseislands, and should bo outside of party politics. A dead set is being made i against Sir James Allen because of his i supposed intention to push a scheme for j three-month training camps. For party I parental feelings are being ex- 1 plaited in relation to the moral danger supposed to be indigenous to the neigh- j hourhood of camps. Is it to be supposed I that the extremists, who are notoriously 1 opposed to military-service of any kind, will not take advantage of Lib-Lab. • commitments on this_ subject to colour legislation their peculiar tint,, that is, if. the main parties are nearly equally divided in tie new House? (