A Word About the N. Z. Alliance, which Issues this Voters' Guide.

ln the early part of the year 1886, a few leading temperance people from various parts of the Colony met in the City of Wellington to found the New Zealand Alliance for the Suppression of the Liquor Traiffic. A conviction had grown upon workers all over the Colony that the time had come for the institution of a Colonial Organisation, with the one plank in its planform of Prohibition by the votes of the people. On this simple issue an opportunity was afforded to all sympathisers to unite irrespective of political party, religious belief, or other differences.

The work of the Alliance has been, and is, twofold—viz., to obtain for the people suitable legislative enactment, and to educate them in the use of the power obtained. Its legislative work, co-operated in by many outside its own membership, has been so far successful that a large instalment of the legislation sought has been obtained; whilst its direct and indirect educational efforts, in conjunction with those of other [unclear: argamisations] (some of which are the fruit of Alliance labours), have gone far toward costing and developing the widespread, healthy public opinion now existing.

Reviewing its ten years' operations, the Alliance has spent no less a sum than [unclear: 986] 14s. 3d. on the agitation, being an [unclear: arrange] annual expenditure of £726 16s 5d. Above two thousand meetings have been held—covering nearly every part of the Colony—voicing from all sorts of platforms the one message: Prohibition by the Will of the People. More than a million lenticts of different kinds have been distributed among all sections of society. In replying to questions from friends at a distance, in supplying information, in advising in difficult cases, and, generally, in promoting the agitation, its correspondenee has been considerable. In the House of Parliament two objects have always been kept in view—viz. to secure the passage of good legislation, and to prevent that of bad. In the country it has been the aim of the Alliance to promote the education of the people in Prohibition principles by the use of Press, platform, pulpit, conference, and every legitimate influence. Nearly six thousand members have been enrolled, including, with few exceptions, every leader of the movement.

Its income is chiefly derived from the voluntary contributions of members and friends, and the Alliance executive takes this opportunity of appealing for an increase in the number of contributors. If you have not yet helped in this work we ask for your favourable consideration of the foregoing facts, and this present appeal for practical sympathy. Contributions of any amount may be paid or posted to the Secretary, Mr. H. Field, New Zealand Alliance Office, Grey Street, Wellington.