NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 July 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

PROHIBITION WITH COMPENSATION. HON. G. W. RUSSELL'S STATEiMENT AUCKLAND, July 9. The opinion expressed by the Hon. Mr. Russell that the leaders of the liquor trade and the executive of the New Zealand Alliance woulcTagree, if indeed-they had not already agreed, to a poll ;of electors on the liquor question on the proposal of the National Efficiency Board, was submitted to Mr A. S. Bankart, chairman of the Auckland Provincial Council, and to the Rev*. P. Smallfield, president of the Alliance , >Mr Bankart dismissed the matter by remarking,, that such., a statement could only emanate from the imagination of the Minister, and was quite inaccurate. . Mr Smallfield, while declaring that the Alliance was opposed to compensation, said it was prepared to assent to such payment as an act of expediency, and as a means of abolishing the trade. The Efficiency Board regarded the payment of compensation as an; immediate means of finally disposing.. of the trade, and the leaders of the Alliance felt they had no right to oppose this view, and had therefore decided to support the Board.