From this it is clearly the opinion of members of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers' [unclear: trisition] that it will pay "the trade" to, "actively oppose the Prohibition party," even by a "expenditure of money," as well as of "hard work." If, however, they believed, as some [unclear: their] political friends pretend to do, that we are only making a move which will prove our [unclear: again] to be so unpopular as to retard our work for several years, by a great revulsion of [unclear: ment] in their favour, where is the reason for this "active opposition" which is to result simple compensation for the expenditure ?"

The plain fact is, they see as clearly as many others, that Prohibition means the end of their life monopoly, and that their only hope of preserving their position and the gains of their [unclear: lies] in doing all that they can to prevent a general expression of the public mind at the They know their time will be up, when the people are allowed to give an independent on the question of "License or No License," hence their agitation.

What does that mean to as? Simply that our opponents know we are the stronger, and have secure our rights their trade must perish. It means that they are convinced our claims wist, and our position just.

In view of this state of mind on the part of the Licensed Victuallers, what should be [unclear: part] of the political cry of warning which some are never tired of uttering in hope of in[unclear: bring] timorous supporters of our movement?

It is not our movement which is threatened. It is the craft of Diana that is in danger. [unclear: There] otherwise, there would be no terror, no anxiety, no nervous calls upon "the trade" to every power to oppose us. Their advice would simply be, "Let the fanatics go on, they [unclear: try] rushing to certain destruction," or "Give the Prohibitionists rope enough, and they [unclear: asking] themselves; we need not trouble ourselves."

[unclear: But] they are certain that if we win, they will lose, and we are sure to win if the people their will by means of the ballot. The warning is nothing but the trick of a " forlorn It is merely a ruse to divert our attention from the issue, so as to weaken our defence point of attack.