PROHIBITION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1078, 5 December 1911, Page 2

PROHIBITION.

ARC HR IS HOP RED WOO IPS CIRCULAR.

REPDY BY ADDIADCE EXECUTIVE.

Wellington, This Day

A special meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Alliance passed a resolution to the effect that the executive had read with deep regret the circular letter of Archbishop Redwood advising Roman Catholics to vote against National Prohibition', on the grounds that possibly the repeal of the clause allowing alcoholic wine for sacramental purposes may follow the success of National Prohibition. That the executive noticed with pleasure that the saitl declaration does not touch the issue of No-License, as no question of the need for any exemption for sacramental or other purposes can arise tinder that issue. The executive desired it to be understood that the party had not only not entertained any such idea, but had given substantial evidence to the contrary. The executive had taken a strong lute safeguarding religious convictions. When the draft of the famous ‘ ‘ compact ’ ’ was presented to the Alliance it did not contain a provision covering the sacramental question. The New Zealand Alliance absolutely refused to proceed unless the proviso were inserted, and Sir Joseph Ward declared that unless the New Zealand Alliance’s demand were acquiesced in he would not proceed with the Bill. The definite exemption of sacramental wine from the operation of National Prohibition was then inserted. tTbis is provided by section Jl, clause i, of the Actj, The executive stales that it is satisfied that it speaks for the whole of the No-License party when it declares that that party would never carry the principle of Prohibition to such lengths as would interfere with the rights of conscience of Roman Catholic fellow-citizens, or of any other religious body, but would, on the contrary, oppose any such extension as a violation of the principles of religious liberty.

TELEGRAM P'ROAI MR HAAIMOND. TO ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD. Dunedin, December 4. With reference to Archbishop Redwood’s circular, Mr Hammond despatched the following telegram to the Archbishop this morning ;