POLITICS AND PROHIBITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5697, 16 October 1896, Page 5 (Supplement)

POLITICS AND PROHIBITION.

Two rather remarkable letters appear in another column. One is from a member of the .National Association, who prefers to hide his identity under a norn de plume, and the other from our old friend Mr Palk. The first protests in "an amicable spirit" against our attitude towards the organisation with which its author is connected, and attempts to show that we have done something less than justice to a large section of ourpolitical opponents. This is provoked, no doubt, by some comments we made the other day upon the annual report of the Association, and we can only assure our critic, in the same amicable spirit as he entertains himself, that we have no desire to belittle even the feeblest effort "to cultivate a better tone in politics." As a matter of fact, the remarks which appear to have offended ou j correspondent were based on the Association's own report, and their effect, if they have any effect at all, should, be to arouse our Conservative friends - to greater activity. It is not our fault that the Association's meetings are poorly attended, and that a large majority of its members fail to pay their subscriptions ; buk as we appear to be held in some way responsible for these unfortunate circumstances, we may be permitted to suggest that the results would be much better if the objects of the organisation were frankly disclosed. Why, for instance, should not the Association change its name ? Its present title conveys nothing to the great mass of the electors, unless it is a suspicion that it is employed to conceal the real object of the promoters ; but " Conservative " or " Political Best " or "Anti-Reform" or "Freetrade" - ;i anything that gave in a word a e~ .. ' : idea of the character o£ the Associa- ! tion, would appeal to hundreds of timorous people who are alarrne4 by the progressive policy of the present Ministry. We offer this suggestion in all seriousness. A good Opposition is only less important than a good Government, and we are quite as anxious as any of our critics that every section of the community should be fairly represented in the

new Parliament. Mr Palk deals with a different subject. He tries, without much success, we think, to justify his assertion that we have displayed " persistent hostility to prohibition." He holds that because we advocate pure liquor and direct State control, we must be in sympathy with the " trade." This is surely the strangest of reasoning ; but perhaps the best answer to Mr Palk's charge is provided by our other correspondent who implies that .we are in league with the prohibitionists. If we have managed to displease the extremists on both sides of the licensing question we may fairly conclude that our own position is tolerably sound.