THE PROHIBITION PARTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3688, 25 November 1912, Page 5

THE PROHIBITION PARTY.

MR. WESLEY SPRAGG INTERVIEWED. THE “DEMOCRATIC VOTING” CAMPAIGN. Foi the past week, Mr Weslev Spragg, President of the New Zealand Alliance, has been holidaying in Gisborne and lias taken the opportunity of vi ewing the district as much as possible. Before his departure by the Wimmera -on Saturday morning, Mr Spragg was interviewed by a “Times” representative.

“My visit to Gisborne,” he said, “was almost entirely in connection with the new democratic vote campaign, instituted by tho prohibition party. We are trying to make it perfectly clear that our interference in politics is only to be in anticipation of securing justice in the matter of the vote which is to decide whether the liquor traffic is to continue in New Zealand or not. The present arrangement, which is a handicap of 50 per cent, on the party of reform, is now felt to bo absolutely intolerable. Our people are demanding that the change shall he made, to give us at least a measure of fair play, and that that change shall he made forthwith. Hitherto, we have never been so welded together as-a political force and the politician has. with, more correctness than I would care to indicate, considered us a rope of sand. “Tho secretary of the Alliance (the Rev. Dawson) and myself have visited 62 electorates out of 76 in New Zealand and are assured of the practical unanimity of our .people in those districts. We propose to discuss only one question at the coming elections two years’ hence, on the principle that only one thing can he attended to at one time or, at least, can he best attended to in that manner. Our people are pledging themselves that they will not vote for candidates who will not give redress, either by the ‘whole fare’ admission of the Democratic rule or at least >a very substantial reduction upon tho present outrageous handicap. “Recognising that our people are attached to the different political parties, we are very gratified at their unanimous acceptance of the new proposal. The proposal is the result of the last Dominion conference, held in Wellington in June last. There is not the slightest doubt .that we shall so command the pledged votes at the next election, that we will secure tho redress we arc demanding. “I only spent three days in Gisborne,” replied Mr Spragg to a question. “and I have seen more of your country than ever before. It is not only a charming district, hut is n«~ turallv an exceedingly wealthy place with land of a first-class quality. I took a motor run to the head of your railway service yesterday and was surprised at the advancement made and at the signs of prosperity and progress, which mark out a great future.’