NO-LICENSE AND POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2325, 19 October 1908, Page 2

NO-LICENSE AND POLITICS.

[To the Editor.]

Sir,- —'I agree with the expressions of opinion 'published by two correspondents this morning, which indicate the feeling of a good many people on the subject of the No-License League’s attitude.. They do not identify themselves with, but they do associate themselves with Mr Darton, It may be that we yet shall have the spectacle of Mr Darton and Mr A. J. Black going about hand-in-liand, a conjunction that, considering all things, would be . amusing to some of ns, and as for 'most of us, well —, —I am, etc., “MIBABUNLUS.” Sir, —Your correspondents of Saturday wish to know why, if the Nolicense League does not identify •itself with any political candidate, Mr. Darton still advertises himself as the Labor and No-license candidate, .and why ho spoke at Patutahi with the Bev. Yv r . .Grant on no-license. Mr. Darton does not advertise himself as the Labor and No-licenso candidate, but las “standing (in Liberal and Nolicenso interests,” which any man has •a right .to do if (lie chooses. He certainly has not' been selected by tlio No-license League as its representative, nor (has any other candidate. If Mr. Carroll chooses to advertise him- > self'as standing in the Government and No-license; interests, no one would have (a right to object. It would not imply that ho was adopted ■as the No-license League candidate, but simply that ho sympathised with nfo-licemse as a reform _ measure. With regard to the meeting lat /JPututalii, it was not u political meeting, and Mr. Darton made this clear in his speech. He simply volunteered .as a member of the No-licenso League to (apeak on that subject nt this meeting, as others will do at similar meetings which will be held in ; other country places. 1 may add that Mr. Darton withdrew from the executive olf the League last year, so that it should not in. vany way he hampered by alliance •with ia political candidate. "The League will not presume to dictate, nor will it even suggest to . any of its " memTiers for what candidate they should vote, and if iany or every candidate should speak in. favor of no-license it will not presumo to say they should not. —I am. etc., ;f. w. ghattebton, President No-license 'League. :- Sir,—To ishow how little political significance attaches to the fact of my association with. Mr. Darton at the no-license meeting held at Patutalii on Thursday evening last, I wish to say that I shall be delighted to (accompany oither Mr. W. Lissant Clayton or the Hon. James Carroll on a similar mission.—l am, etc..