THE LIQUOR TRADE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 254, 15 July 1918, Page 6

THE LIQUOR TRADE

. 4 COMPROMISE SUGGESTIONS DENIED. Speaking on behalf of the liquor trade in Chrlstchurch last week, Mr. .A. S. Duncan made a statement regarding tho suggestions contained in an Auckland interview with the Eon. G. W. KusscU (Minister of Internal Affairs). . Mr. Duncan said that Mr. Russell, m effect, stated that an agreement hail been come to between tho Now Zealand Alliance and the Trade that ;v poll should be taken on the question of I'rohibition with compensation on the hues recommended by the National tfhoency Board, and as presented to Parliawcut during the session of 1917. To that suggestion he gave a most emphatic it ml positive denial. No arrangements nad been entered into or considered, and nothing was further from t.ie mind ot In* Trade than that a poll should be taken at. this iuncturo on the liquor question. Tho Trade viewed tho present agitation ns only another move on the part of tlia Alliance to carry out its avowed pjat.orm. of total prohibition, under the ooak at"win the war." , ~ . Although tho Alliance now stated tliaft it was willing to concede to the, lrado tho principle of compensation, Mr. Duncan continued, it left out of its considerHon the great Moderate Party, w uf*r m since the fight etaited, had hd< thp balanco of power. It would be monK to think that the Trade should fall so low in decency as to agree w£ the Alliance to accept a vote on Piohibition with compensation ona ban, maioritv simply to save, its own s in, and this against 'those who had nlwajs been the Trade'* friends. *£"*.%s* proposals advanced from anj <1" M ;*| failed to include 'air tveatmen to f all c ton? of the community ]i»tso low was the Trade prepared to fight uie «dded that at the ,rrSpStmcetV'positioninduo course.