Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1893.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4495, 5 August 1893, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1893.

Sir Eobtrt Stont has proved that a substantial majority of the House of Representatives is pledged to an i amendment of the Licensing Act in the direction of Prohibition, and it is I known that very many members are so pledgeJ because they believe that a majority of their constituents are ' favourable to Prohibition, The eviI dence is incontrovertible, even to ourselvea.wlio do not accept the principle of Prohibition, that it is demanded by the country and must come in some shape or form. The Government have been waiting to see' what way the wind blew. If they found that a majority of the House favoured Piobibition, they are prepared to make it a plank of their' policy; if, on the otberhand,they discovered a majority of members were unfavourable to it, they would have rejoiced greatly, Virtually they must now jump, off the rail on which they have been sitting, and join the Prohibitionists, The measme of Prohibition to be granted is still an open question. Sir Robert Stout had two Bills, one which went all the way and gave the Direct Veto hot and strong, the other which supplied a much milder reform, one which was not quite to the taste of, leading temperance advocates, and certainly did not please brewers, It was on this half and half measure that be won his victory in the House, : the moral 'of it is that he is now master of the situation, and can dictate conditions to the Government, There will be some sort of compromise, and the Government will go to the country on some kind of prohibition ticket. The publicans party is politically at a discount, and the members of it are somewhat to blame. Their motto for some time past has besn to make hay while the sun shines, to . reokieesly trade in violation of the law ; and in conflict with public opinion. < Had they themselves put tbeit houses i straight and kept them straight; had ' they respected the spirit and letter of j the' liioenfling Aot, public opinion | would in their hour of need have ! been on their side, 'But they" have ' been sinning against others and there is every, prospect now of others sinning against them. Their trade has become disreputable and for this they themselves have been to blame and they theniseivestnußt bear thepenalty, -.':..rjni■' i". <aezs:.:i : :-'■■;•■' ■