UNDERMINING PARLIAMENT.

Shannon News, 30 October 1928, Page 1

UNDERMINING PARLIAMENT.

A DANGEROUS POLICY.

The. expenses of the Anti-Saloon League in America —corresponding to the New Zealand-. Alliance here—are chiefly incurred in influencing the results of political elections and in creating lobbies to press class legislation to the exclusion of all other public affairs. A vicious dominance at Washington and a dangerous and subversive power in the several States have been acquired by the private organization of the Anti-Saloon League at a cost of seventy million dollars. - This is a condition which cannot be ignored in New Zealand. The Alliance. exists for tlu same purpose as the AntiSaloon League, and is already employing the same tactics. It cares not for questions needing the best brains of Parliament, and involving the happiness prosperity of the people. Since it realises that prohibition can never be carried by the people's vote, its main efforts are now being concentrated on securing the nomination to Parliament of men of its own choice. How far these attempts at Super-Gov-ernment are likely to be tolerated in a democratic country like New Zealand, remains to be seen, but with the experience of America to guide them. New Zealanders are not likely to be hoodwinked by such underground methods. —l7*