THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1918, Page 3

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

ASSUMING A NEW IPHASE. (Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, July 0. The statement of the Hon,. G. W. Russell that the Prohibition Party has agreed with the Liquor Party to support a referendum on the Efficiency Board's scheme for the extinction of the liquor traffic, with compensation, is contradicted by the Rev. R. S. Gray, who says that the two organisations have neither agreed nor negotiated. Mr. Gray is technically correct, but there is a strong impression that something like a tacit understanding exists on the point mentioned by Mr. Russell. The Liquor Party, according to an apparently well-founded report, would accept a referendum on the Efficiency Board's proposal in substitution for'the next vote on th National (Prohibition issue. It could be induced to accept a bare majority decision in return for the adoption of the principle of compensation, as proposed by the board. The attitude of the Government has not been disclosed, but the statement made by the Hon. G. TV,. Russell is being interpreted in some quarters as an indication that the referendum proposal has become a Cabinet question. Nothing would be done in the absence of the two party leaders, and, of course, no definite move can be made before the next session in any case. There certainly is a feeling in both prohibition arid liquor circles here that the liquor question is assuming a new phase, and that very important developments may take place within the next twelve months,.