MINISTERS AND THE PROHIBITION PARTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5501, 28 February 1896, Page 2

MINISTERS AND THE PROHIBITION PARTY.

It is understood (says the Wellington correspondent of the Oamaru Mail) that the Opposition Party is angling for an alliance -with the Prohibition Party on a cry of pure administration and a promise to promote advanced iiquor legislation. There is, however, every reason for believing that an attempt to create anything resembling a dangerous opposition to the Liberal Government will bo unsuccessful. In the headquarters of prohibition in the colony it is rumoured that the Prohibition Party are making advances to the Government, which are being met in a friendly spirit. The Premier's attitude in the case t>f the transferred Wellington license has given much satisfaction to the teetotal party ; and the elevation to Cabinet rank of Mr Hall- Jones, who has been a consistent supporter of temperance reform, is viewed as a pledge of Ministerial good faith towards the prohibition cause. It is quite expected that on the first occasion of a Ministerial address which will probably be in Otago, the announcement will bo made that the Cabinet has agreed upon introducing an amending Bill in which the principle of the bare majority for the local option poll will be recognised. This concession, it is calculated, will have the effect of converting all prohibitionists into warm Ministerialists, and will avert the danger of a divided Liberal vote at the general election of November next.