SUGGESTED AMALGAMATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10397, 22 July 1901, Page 1

SUGGESTED AMALGAMATION.

(Per United Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, July 21. At a .social given to Mr j. G. Smith, the successful candidate at the byeelection, last night, Mr T. E. Taylor suggested - that prohibitionists and and worker* should combine afc the next general election. He said there was a marked change in politics during the past ten years in the attitude of',*he Trades and Labour Council. The Hon. Mr McCulloch .^ex-president of the Council) was at one with the apcakera of the party with regard* to the just moral issue it had introduced into politics, and was the Coancil it■elf. . 3&x Taylor ftaid h« looked forward, to the time when ■< two mcto la«;s forc«r would amalgamate. The Prohibitionist? joining hiwds with the wage-earners, jrould sweep the polls at the general election next year. It might appear, that Mr Smith's supporters were running agaiust tho Labour candidate at the Ijye-election, and that there had been antagonism; but if the Council scrutinised Mr Smith's actions it would find that he would, by voice and vote, do as much tor the workers and interests they liad at heart c.a would be done qy anynominee from their own ranks. Perhaps Mr Smith would cany more mfluonca in the House than a straight-out Labour man would carry. Mr Tayl-ir claimed that prohibition was a strong working man's movement, and his parly should not be severed politically from » large percentage of- the wage-earning class to Bring about the nroposed amalgamation. If necessary the Prohibitioni*ta should make concessions, and ho did not see why they should not work Jiand in- hand with the Trades Council. and return to Parliament men wjia •womld stand firmly against the only noaopoly in the colony which riiould be jLepfoi of parliamentary representatl0 Mr Smith, m following Mr Taylor. said the proposed amalgamation -would, haws to be very carefully considered us »ny amalgamation to oppose any other aecUm of the community must be carcfullv approached. Speaking f rom a tainSeK^tandpoint/they would W to Be very careful what they did in that respect They had sympathisers in til Ec& and should" consider whe. her j they were going to make the prohibition movement a deliberate political sporty on one «de of the House. He was .expressing those opinions so tha v it •would no! be said he bad agreed to any such suggestion without giving it due consideration. He would like time to think the- matter over.