DEPUTATION OF GOOD TEMPLARS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5741, 23 August 1879, Page 3

DEPUTATION OF GOOD TEMPLARS.

The deputation appointed by the United Committee of Good Templar lodges on Thursday evening—consisting of Messrs. Price, Godber, Wardrop, and Robbins- -waited on three of the candidates yesterday. Mr. Levin was the first gentleman interviewed.

Mr. PbiCE, who acted as spokesman, expressed regret that from Jthe limited time at their disposal they had been unable to ask Mr. Levin to appoint a time for receiving them, and had no alternative left them but to wait on him in this somewhat unceremonious way, which they trusted he would be good enough to excuse. Mr. Price then proceeded to explain that the deputation had been appointed by a committee of the Good Templar lodges of the city to interview the several candidates with the object of ascertaining their views on the Local Option Bill and the question of compensation. He stated that the body which they represented were so impressed with the vital importance of this question, as involving the highest and best interests of the colony, that differing widely as they necessarily did on the many political questions of the day, they were prepared to sink all their differences, and give an unanimous vote to the gentlemen who would pledge themselves to give effect to their views in this matter. These views, for the purpose of their interview, could be expressed in two questions, to which they were desirous of getting definite answers. What they would first ask him (Mr. Levin) was whether he was prepared to adopt the Local Option Bill of 1873, and seek to amend its machinery, so as to render it workable 1 In the second place, whether he would oppose the granting of compensation.

Mr. Levin expressed his pleasure in seeing the deputation. He said he had thought the subject in which they were interested over very carefully, and was quite prepared to express the conclusion to which he had come. He fully agreed with them that drink was the greatest curse of the colony, and he was anxious to see any measures that would lessen this evil given effect to. He adopted the principle of the Local Option Bill fully, and if elected would seek to have it rendered workable, so that to their first question he gave his ready and full assent. He also agreed with them generally that there should be no compensation given ; but he wished to put it to them, and to their body on the grounds of policy, if it would not be better, in view of giving effect at an earlier date to this measure, to meet their opponents in the spirit of compromise, and to agree to compensation being given under certain circumstances, as, for instance, a house which had been in existence for ten or more years, and against which there had been no complaint, he thought that it would be expedient to grant compensation in such cases. They must not overlook the fact of large vested interests being involved in this question, and these interests were influential and powerful, and would offer every possible opposition to the measure. While he was prepared to vote against any compensation being given, yet, on the ground of “ halt a loaf being better than none,” he thought it would be well to accept some such compromise. He was in favor of doing so himself. Mr. Price observed that they were fully aware of the power possessed by the large monetary interest involved, and knew well how great was the influence which it commanded, and how strenuously the publicans would oppose all attempts to restrict the trade. Still, they accepted cheerfully the protracted struggle which they had to maintain, for they had, in common with the great temperance party throughout the world, after full and mature deliberation, come to the conclusion that they could not agree to the granting of any compensation. They wished to have a definite understanding with the candidates that they would elect to support—that they would oppose compensation Under any and every circumstance. They wished now to ask him (Mr. Levin), seeing that he so fully concurred with their views ; if, in the event of such circumstances arising, as he thought it would be politic to grant some compensation, whether he would confer with them ?

Mr. Levin said he would be prepared to do so. Mr. Pbiob : And, in the event of our being opposed to granting it, you will defer to our views ?

Mr. Levin : Yes ; having pledged myself to you thus, I will abide by your decision. The deputation then waited upon Mr. Hunter, and stated the object of their visit more briefly, as they were aware of Mr. Hunter’s past action in the matter. Mr. Hunter referred to the fact that he had always voted for the Local Option Bill, and against compensation. Recognising Sir William Fox as the leader of the Temperance party, he (Mr. Hunter) had always co-operated cordially with that gentleman in all the measures he had introduced.

Mr. Hutchison was then waited upon. Mr. Price again ‘ introduced the deputation, stating the object of the interview they had sought, and submitted the same two questions as those asked of Mr. Levin.

Mr. Hutchison remarked that he had already answered these questions in the affirmative, in reply to a letter addressed to him from the temperance bodies. In that letter he had stated his readiness to endeavor to amend the Act o! 1873, so £® to render it workable. He fully endorsed the principles of that Act. In all such cases he held that the wishes of the people should be given effect to. As to the question of compensation, he held that the publicans had no legal claim for compensation ; but at the same time he felt that there were cases in which an equitable claim might be maintained. Thus, if it were shown that a man had conducted his business for a number of years without any complaint being made against him, and if his business was injured by the operation of such an Act as this, he would not object to allowing him some compensation. But he thought the question of compensation should not be raised in connection with the Local Option Bill ; the two things were quite distinct, he would oppose the introduction of a clause into the Bill. But still circumstances might arise in which he might deem it expedient to grant compensation, and he would not bind himself by saying that he would not vote for it under given circumstances. Lengthy and somewhat irregular conversation here took place. In answer to a question Mr. Hutchison said he would be happy to confer with them at such time as the compensation question arose j and while he could not bind himself to be governed by them views he would, he trusted, be open to conviction.^ The deputation thanked him for the kind reception accorded them, and then withdrew. Mr. Greenfield, who had gone to Picton, will be interviewed on Monday.