DOMINION OPTION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 851, 24 June 1910, Page 4

DOMINION OPTION.

TO BE CONSIDERED TO-DAY. Tho great question of Dominion, as opposed to district, option will be finally considered to-day by tho No-License Con? vention, which is now being held in Wellington. A certain amount of excitement evidently prevails among No-License workers at tho prospect of coming to a decision on this important subject, with regard to which there is understood to bo a strong division of opinion among adherents of tho cause. Speaking at the banquet held in the Municipal Concert Chamber last evening, and referring especially to tho discussions of the convention yesterday, Mr. A. S. Adams, one of the principal leaders of the No-Licenso movement, laid emphasis upon the fact that the utmost cordiality and good temper had prevailed, "notwithstanding tho keenness of discussion, and the great strain on members who took part in the j debate. There was not a single discordant note, and though we are looking forward to an imminent division on this very importaut question, wo have preserved a- cordial bearing towards each other, and an attitude of perfect courtesy consistent with the character of Christian gentlemen." (Applause.) The curiosity , of strangers, at the banquet was whetted by a statement which the president of the Alliance (Mr. Wesley Spragg) commenced to make, but did not finish. Mr. Spragg had been referring to the assistance which the NoLicense party expected to receive in fu« turo from the business community and from labour. "We are going to have the labour people with us almost at once," he said. ''The tendency in Auckland is in that direction, -notwithstanding recent events which appear to be contrary to that. But even that event, lameutable as it seemed to be, is going to help us, it is going to be grist to our mill. I refer to the recent pity East election. Wo people—a majority of us—nearly every one of us—have given over a course . of action which a .short time ago ap- : peared to be necessary." ! At this point the speaker, as if ho had some doubt of' the propriety of making .public what he was about to say, consulted Mr. A. S. Adams, who sat beside him. Mr. Adams replied in a voice for all to hear, "You had better stop as soon as you can." "I am told I had bettor stop as soon as I can," said Mr. Spragg. "I will stop no'w, gentlemen." Mr. Adams, who had occasion to rise a moment .later, merely remarked, in reference to the incident, "Now that jvas very good of Mr. Spragg, wasn't it?" At .a meeting .of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, held last evening, ; the following resolution , was passed "That this jneetiug of tho Trades and I Labour Council sends its greetings to the No-License Convention, now sitting in Wellington, and expresses its sympathy with the object of demanding the decision of local and Dominion option by a bare majority."