THE DIRECT VETO.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2527, 11 July 1893, Page 3

THE DIRECT VETO.

A deputation from the Direct Veto Convention waited on the Premier at Wellington on Thursday night and urged the Government to give eveiy facility for the passage of the Direct Yeto Bill, which has been introduced into the House by Sir Robert Stout. The deputation numbered 55 persons, and included representatives from every temperance organisation in the colony. Mr B Wethy, of Auckland, who had acted as chairman of the Convention, said the deputation had the greatest pleasure in approaching the Government, considering as they did that it was the most advanced ministry in social questions that had ever held sway in New Zoalaud. He pointed out that the Bill was of a democratic character, inasmuch as it left the whole liquor question in the hands of the people. Mr A. S. Adams, of Dunedin, and the Rev. E. Walker, organiser of the New Zealand Alliance, also spoke. Mr Seddon said he could not give a decided answer to the deputation at present. The matter was one for serious consideration, and his colleagues would have to be consulted before the decision of the Cabinet on the subject could bo announced It must be admitted that at present the law was in a very unsatisfactory state, but he must guard a gainst an important question like this being sprung upon Parliament before the people had had reasonable time to consider it. Personally he believed the time was ripe for the proposed legislation, and he should say that if the measure did not pass this session the question should be left open for consultation of the people and the position should not be prejudiced for either party. Many private meim bers had expressed the belief that the power to control the traffic should be left in the hands of the people, and he had saidas a candidate for the E , persons who had inve**' * . J , - class of nroiv-'.' od m a certain C °v.P did so with their eyes o, '*u and must take the risk. He admitted that the last election had been in favour of the direct veto party. In conclusion he said he would lay the views of the deputation before his colleagues, and when the Bill came before the House for the second reading the Government would announce the position they intended to take up on the question. A public meeting conducted by the New Zealand Alliance was held on Friday evening, at which there was a large attendance. Mr Bell, the mayor, who presided said that as one who had no connection with the Prohibition Party, he wished to make an explanation respecting some remarks made by the Rev. Mr Isitt some three or four months fince, which had iu some quarters been alleged to be a reflection on the late Mr Ballauce. He (Mr Bell) was chairman at that meeting, and he heard not a single word concerning the late Premier which any reasonable person could have thought personally offensive. He desired to say this because accusations had been made against the prohibition organisation by describing Mr Isitt as a man who had made a cowardly attack on Mr Ballance while on his death-bed. Several addresses were delivered, and at the conclusion a resolution was carried earnestly appealing to the legislature to pass the Direct Veto Bill this session, and also “ That this meeting pledges itself not to vote for any candidate at next election who will not give the people the right to the direct veto.”