MR KELLY AND THE TEMPERANCE PARTY.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 29, 21 October 1893, Page 12

MR KELLY AND THE TEMPERANCE PARTY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Mr Kelly in replying to Mr Taylor re Liquor Control .Bill, is reported to liave said tliat lie had been asked by the Government to support the Bill, and without being made fully acquainted with the provisions of the Bill, had promised to give it general support. Was that wise, or does it not reveal a slavish subjection to party ? .Further he seid he voted for the three-fifths majority, and in doing so had voted against his pledges and against his convictions. His reason for doing so was that he knew that it was impossible to obtain provision in the Bill for a bare majority ; and further he considered the good the Bill contained exceeded the evil. Mr Kelly’s reasons are characteristic of the politics of the day, and may be summed up in two lines of a song — •“ Honesty is all in my eye. Anything to gain a crnst.” The Government was not bound to bring forward this Bill at all, and only did so to prevent a better measure being carried, and Mr Kelly was not bound to accept the best that the Government was •willing to offer. His allegiance was due to those whose views he had pledged himself to support, and if he breaks away from these pledges, and votes against his supporters and his convictions to serve his party in the House, what is to prevent him doing so in the future if returned again to Parliament, and of what value are the pledges and promises he is now making so readity ? This is a matter for the temperance party to consider. —I am, &c., T. Buxtok.