THE "THREE-FIFTHS" DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 78, 19 August 1912, Page 6

THE "THREE-FIFTHS" DIVISION.

a | To the Editor. | Sir, —It is good to read Mr. flawkins" {• outspplieji sentiments• ia..your columns. ' If we could only get people to vote, as he indicates, for moral reform (and liquor reform is the first, greatest, pressing reform) , irrespective of the question of the old parties, we should soon wipe out the liquor trade in New Zealand. lam glad to know-that-Mr. Hawkins wilj.'do that as a voter; and I hope the day will come ; when he'will do that as a, member of J Parliament. In the meantime it is our j —his and my—duty to do all we can to I show the people the enormity of the evil j we are contending with and to inspire I them with hope and courage to use every I means. • ■'True, the old parties will do I nothing in the direction of moral reform —neither as to <lrink nor: as to gambling. It is time we had another party, , a truly Democratic Reform Party, willing to overthrow all monopoly, and not be I misled by the parrot cry of "Liberal."! And we are moving in this direction. The j people of Christciiurch and vicinity are | j generally supporters of the late Liberal J

Government, but they are showing now that they will not submit to be repre- '■ sented in Parliament by. such men' as Messrs Russell and Davey, who call themselves Liberals and will not trust the people to settle the liquor question at the polls on equal terms with the interested traders therein. Thev are

showing their resentment by taking a I pledge in their hundreds, and I hope | thousands, not to support any man as ai candidate who will not reduce the three-' fifths majority now required by law—not justice—to abolish the liquor bare in the electorates or to carry prohibition' in ,the Dominion. This ,is what will be done, not in Canterbury only, but in all parts of New Zealand between this and the next election; and so any candidate for a seat in the House who stands up for the liquor trade having any advantage over the anti-liquor party at the polls will find himself left out in the cold. In this campaign I see that we can 1 reckon on Mr. Hawkins' hearty support, j lam sorry be objects to my initials. IJ am very modest, and that is why I do not sign my name. The disguise is very thin, and I will tell Mr. Hawkins all about it next time I meet him.—l am, j,etc, G.H.M. :