NO-LICENSE PROSPECTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 130, 23 May 1908, Page 2

NO-LICENSE PROSPECTS.

I\EV. ISITT HOPEFUL. ESPECIALLY OF TARANAKI. Per Press Association. Asliburton, Last Night, llcv. Frank W. Isitt, secretary of the tNcw Zealand AUiancle, to-day told a representative of the Guardian that the No-license party throughout the Dominion were hopefiil with respect to the coining local option poll and were working with an energy that justified hopefulness!, The party recognised that they had an unknown quantity to deal with in the immigrants of the past three years, and fully appreciated the strength of their opponents, but still felt that the present outlook was better than that of any previous similar occasion, [lie contended that there had been a steady development of no-license sentiment throughout the British Umpire and in America, and that this eofild not iail to carry weight in the Dominion, He was particularly hopeful in regard to 'iaranaki, but feared that part of Taumarunui being attached to the Waitara electorate might spoil what might otherwise be a no-license provincial district. Speaking in favor of a bare majority, while not mentioning Ashbunton, lie sa.id he did not see how democratic principles could be reconciled with any other position, or that anything could be said in favor of the advantages that thwe-flfth. majority gave his party of holding an electorate by a minority vote. Dominion option, in addition to the present option, was required to be determined by a bare majority, candidates at the ensuing election would be piesonted with a Series of questions in this connection.

In reply to an enquiry as to how his party like the recent deliverance ol Mr McGowan, Minister for Justice, i„ regard to clubs, Mr. lsitt said;—"Of course we are exceedingly sorry that the Minister for Justice should go out of his way to speak of "workingmen's clubs as beneficial institutions. It Is ■within my own knowledge that in one of the clubs the half-yearly report show, ed that over £SOOO had been spent on liquor and less that £lO. on literature in that club. A club charter works havoc. Clubs are obliged to close their ibars at 10 p.m., when the city hotel bars are closed. Members can, however drink till morning by taking advantage of the locker system and not a few of them do. Speaking generally of this cabinet," he concluded, "we hold absolutely aloof from political parties, and I have nothing to say of the present Government that I should not expect to say it the Opposition took office Ido say, though, that I haven't the least fan that we should be cheated in anv way by the present Government, as we undoubtedly have been by some."