N.Z. ALLIANCE AND LIQUOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1918, Page 5

N.Z. ALLIANCE AND LIQUOR.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Timaru, July 9The Rev. Mr, Gray, representing the New Zealand Alliance, speaking at a large meeting in reply to Mr. Russell, stated that there was no agreement. The trade had never been approached (by nor approached the Alliance. The latter would be no party to the compact with the trade. Its present attitude ws due solely to the strong representations from business men as to the necessity of adopting the Efficiency Board's proposal for immediate prohibition m the economic and general interests of the Dominion. Dunedin, Yesterday. The Dunedin Presbytery to-day resolved to heartily approve of the Alliance's acceptance of the Efficiency Board's proposals as a basis of a settlement of the liquor question. A MONJSTEiR'9 STATEMENT QUESTIONED. Wellington, .Last Night. The opinion expressed by the Hon, Mr. (Russell that the leaders of the liquor trade and the executive of the New Zealand Alliance would agree, if indeed they had not already agreed, to a poll of electors on the liquor question on a proposal of the National Efficiency Board, was submitted to Mr. A. S. Bankart, chairman of the Auckland Provincial Council, and to the Rev. P. S. Smallfleld, 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. Smallfleld, while declaring that the Alliance was opposed to the payment of compensation, said that it we% 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 that they had no : right to oppose this view, and had therefore decided to support the Board.