LICENSING COMPACT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 674, 26 November 1909, Page 7

LICENSING COMPACT.

V;AV ATTITUDE OF THE ALLIANCE. y ;; jNd POWER; TO; VARY AGREEMENT. ■' ~ IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY,' REV. J. ■•'■■•■.: ; ',;'-: : b"'.v;-D&W.SON;.-;|" ■;■■, ';-:- r /; 'Interviewed with.!regard to the vexed question/of tho separated ballot papers,' the Rev. J. Dawspn, secretary of the New./Soaland'Alliance, said that.this was the one.point on which the Convention would not follow the.executive or their ; three representatives.. They did not wish toshirk either of'the. issues or. the effect-pro-duced by them upon the community, but full discussion had emphasised the vast difference in. • tho; spirit and: extent of tho' two: proposals. While agreeing to tho prohibition' of the im•portation and manufacture of liquor for solo or barter,: but not to. tho spirit or intentions of Clauce/3, the Convention did want to havetho straight-out , issues , which had been nsked for :by the Liquor party.: They .wanted them, how.overj as separate-issues, aud.they- trusted, that decision # ori that matter, would not jprevent tlienegbtiations from coming to a successful issuo. ' Tho ballot paper as agreed upon did not put. the issues plainly. ' It tangled up .•.two things quite..different .in i principle, with the result that-the man.who,wanted one thing could only., get itby .voting as well for something, quite different.; That is ,to say, the' man who .wanted to voto.for Dominion prohibition ■could,not do so Withb'ut'at vot.; .ing;for No-License in his own electorate,.whioh he.might not.'-nrpJt;: and:jn the , same way a maa .wanting 'to carry local' No-Licenso': could 'only) do ,sb by voting also', for Dominion pro;hipition;'..'This 'position .desired by 1 ' riei-' t tner side, , ; and: it ;meant that.;d man■''frlibVdid , . •not' - choose ■ ,■; to .■ ■ vote i:; for ■'■ botfr. , ,tho ■> pro.posals, j butvdid'- wish..' to ' vote .for qne,; ; was '^practically..: ".■'■ Of; . the /Trade, was, under no. obligation to, .agree to'tho-two ballot..papers,.:buti.tlio.Con-, vohtion felt it : was -,'a' reasonable.'; thing ; to ask.; •All the other points inithe ; agreement;as interpreted %: Dr. Kndlay and the: Alliance solicitor, the CoiiVentian accepted, /They felt; of. icourso, that- in meeting; the 'Trade: with. regard : to-thei majority, question; and .in 'extending tho time before which .'a .'No-License :vote. 'could .take effect, they were.'giving ; up a great deal,' but they: were prepared to' d 0.50.. It:-nnist- bo understood that the. Convention did,. not claim' the, pqwoT, to 'vary.' tho", ngreement, : but. said, frankly that on that.ono' point they, could not ■follow; the-':Allianco; representatives.; ■:.■;lt .- was hoped l that.tho Trade .would .not refuse .to consider-, tho.iriow. suggestions made with regard'toi the two' ballot/papers.. , ; Mr...])awson, said that; if''.the Trade representatives had: any.further suggestion ; to;make arising, from the now position created, , the Alliance: would be'prepared to' consider it.-;'.;'-.-.. ? ■■■■.;.:, .- :.:>.,;: ; -'.;v-

; |; :■• - TEE : . " TRADEf POINT • 01?-VIEW.' • :'■ ■-The 'action of, the No-License Convention' in not; confirming the agreement, entered 1 into by. the, representatives of the 1 party, with the .Trade. in.rogard to the future polls has, : as might bo dxpectod, been \ commented on in very uncomplimentary" terms by members' of, the",liquor .party.' Ths' latter;'; it is stated, have- not been altogether, satisfied' with; the drafting of ..certain :portions .of.the now',apparently useless Bill, ■■'• Protests oji the matte,'- it :"is stated, • were made to Dr. Findlay, but the Trade, not desiring to break: the compact, gave way on these points. It is 'understood that the selection, of;Dr...J?indlay. for. the position: occupied by Uim;in the framing of the recent compromise:; was ■■agreed.'to on the .suggestion pf :tho ;No-License party' in response to ah, invitation to'nomiriate ajd.intenhediary.i:-';-.-'.-.'.-;;; , '"- '■'■•:"