PROHIBITION CONVENTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 23

PROHIBITION CONVENTIONS.

PALMERSTON NORTH, May 24.

The Prohibition Convention opened last night with a monster public meeting in the Theatre Royal, Mr Pirani presiding. Great enthusiasm was shown. A number of interesting addresses was given on the scientific, religious, poetical, and historical aspects of the liquor question by prominent public men. To-day the convention was opened, when between 300 and 400 representatives were present from all parts of the colony, including Canon Webb and the Rev. Mr Wills (Anglican ministers), Sir Robert Stout, Rev. F. W. Isitt, Mr A. R. Atkinson, Mrs Harrison Lee, and Mr John Harding. Resolutions were passed congratulating the Canadian Alliance on the prohibition majority at the plebiscite; to the Rev. L. M. Isitt for his successful English mission; and to Mr T. E. Taylor for services with the Police Commission. It was also resolved — " That as the arming of the people against the liquor traffic is the greatest and most urgent political need of the present day, this convention declares that at the coming general ■ election temperance electors should carefully regard the character, ability, and past conduct of parliamentary candidates, and aim at obtaining from them a pledge to support (1) a colonial option vote; (2) the inclusion of all forms of license under- the popular vote; (3) taking the local option vote simultaneously "with the election of licensing committees ; (4) a bare majority to decide .the issue of license or no license. Also, that as there is reason to believe that at the poll ef 1896 a large number of temperance votes' were wilfully or ignorantly rejected by returning officers and their deputies, the Government be strongly urged to pass into law this year such provisions as may be necessary to safeguard the purity of the poll, and that the New Zealand Alliance be requested to bring the provisions of the act under the notice of all polling officers and scrutineers ; that this convention of delegates, representing 19 electorates, declares that prohibition voters are not allied with or pledged to any political party, but that they aim at securing legislation to give full effect to the will of the people in dealing with the liquor traffic, and desire a pure administration of the laws of the colony ; that all temperance voters should vote reduction as well as no license; that temperance electors contest licensing committee elections to secure the maximum possible reduction aud to prevent fraudulent removals and the strict enforcement of the law. The convention considers the prosecution of their secretary for using envelopes with temperance matter printed thereon without an imprint, whilst scores of colonists who use envelopes with other printed matter thereon have not been prosecuted, shows a maladministration of the law that demands the attention of the Minister for Justice.

To-night a public meeting is being held under the presidency of the mayor. Addresses are to be delivered by Sir R. Stout and others.

May 25. At the second session of the Prohibition Convention Sir Robert Stout presided. It was resolved : " That, iv the opinion of the convention, the prosecution of the general secretary of the convention for issuing envelopes with temperance matter printed thereon without the " printer's- imprint, whilst scores of colonists who use envelopes with other printed matter thereon have not been prosecuted, shows a maladministration of the law that demands the instant attention of the Minister for Justice." Resolutions were also carried that all churches be recommended to observe simultaneously a citizens' Sunday on the 3rd of September, and again on the Sunday immediately preceding the local option poll ; that the conference of Education Boards about, to be held in Wellington be requested to include in the syllabus of reading lessons a special lesson on the physical and economic effects of the use of alcohol, and that scientific temperance be placed in the syllabus as alternative science subjects for Standards IV, V, and VI ; that permission be obtained to place anti-alcoholic charts in the schools ; that the Commissioner of Police and general manager of railways be reqtifeste'd to ' encourage' ' tbtal abstinence among their respective departments by notifying that, other things being equal, the total abstainers will have a preferential claim to promotion.

Sir Robert Stout was appointed honorary president of the convention, which elected the new executive on the basis of electoral representation : — Wellington City — Messrs Messrs A. R. Atkinson, F. H. Fraser, and A. Thompson ; Wellington Suburbs — Mr J. T. King j Wairarapa, Rev Mr Ritchie ;

Masterton, Rev. R. Wood ; Otaki, Miss Ostler ; Palinerston North, Mr James Stabbs ; Rangitikei, Rev. C. Murray ; Manawatu, Ptev. J. Doull; Wanganui, Mr W. G. Bassett; Patea, Mr A. Crawford; Ha-xera, Mr G. Maunder j Eginont, Rev. B. Hudson ; New Plymouth, Mr S. B. White ; Waiapu, Canon Webb ; Napier, Rev. H. W. J Miller ; Hawke's Bay, Rev. J. B. Martin; Waipawa, Rev. T. G. Wills ; Pahiatua, Rev J. C. Eccles ; treasurer, Mr M. Henry ; secretaries, Messrs G. Grant and James Grace. The public meeting at the theatre last night was addressed by Sir Robert Stout, Miss Kirk, Mr A. R. Atkinson, and other?. A resolution was passed similar to the motion carried at the convention regarding the prosecution of Mr G. Grant for issuing printed matter without an imprint. /To-day the convention earned resolutions sympathising with Bishop Tug well, and promising him financial assistance ; applauding Mayor Goldie's (Auckland) practical protest against the use of intoxicants at public functions ; requesting the Alliance Executive to concentrate the work of their agents on the districts most likely to carry "no license " ; .and recommending temperance organisations to secure the return on all local bodies of men who have temperance reform at heart. The following additional resolutions were passed :— " That Parliament be petitioned to pass into law forthwith a measure prohibiting the issue of a, new license in lieu of a license withdrawn or surrendered in another part of any licensing district ; that the Government be asked to bring in a bill providing that all public boarding-houses be kept under police supervision as a guarantee to the travelling public that their safety and comfort will be as well provided for as in licensed houses ; that inasmuch as the practice of opening private bars in licensed premises is an evasion of section 164 of 'The Licensing Act, 1881,' the Government be asked to pass a measure forbidding all such private bars ; that as a large and fast increasing number of people regard with strong disapproval the use of intoxicating liquors in connection with social and convivial functions, this convention would urge all who have Ihe interests of humanity at heart, to discontinue intoxicants at banquets and celebrations, and that the churches adopt unfennented communion wine ; that the New Zealand Alliance arrange for temperance columns in the newspapers ; that Six Robert Stout, Messrs T. E. Taylor, G-. Carson, Jago, Judkins, Atkinson, and Isitt be a special committee to prepare and circulate literature controverting the ' Loss of revenue ' argument of the Liquor party ; that the Government proclaim the Opunake block a prohibited native district, to prevent the establishment, of a publichouse at Kaihu ; that the attention of temperance workers be directed to the fact that the law is broken when liquor is purchased and carried to female Maoris ; that the Government be ii.sked to make the liquor 'law with reference to the Maori women apply to males ; that every church institute Sunday school bands of hope ; that efforts be made to arrange with the parties concerned to release the Revs. Wills, Miller, Ryburn, Dawson, and Dukes, or any other clergymen available, from their local pulpit aDd pastoral work during September and October' next, in order to devote special efforts to Gospel temperance work throughout this division ; that all temperance societies be instructed to organise a house to house canvass in their respective electorates for the enrolment of eligible voters ; that an effort be made to influence ihe women of the colony to take an active part in the coming antialcoholic campaign, and that all temperance societies represented at this convention be pledged to co-operate with the W.C.T.U. by every endeavour to win women's vote for no license ; that this convention pledges itself to co-operate with the New Zealand Alliance in arranging grand welcome meetings for the reception of the Rev. L. M. Isitt on his return from England next month." It was resolved that sparsely joopulated districts receive special attention until the licensing poll. The convention closed with a public meeting to-night addressed by Mrs Harrison Lee and the Rev. P. W. Isitt.

May 26. The Prohibition Convention concluded their session yesterday afternoon. The roll contained 322 names, comprising the following: — Wesleyan Church, 48 ; delegates from the Presbyterian Church, 43; Anglican, 15 ; Primitive Methodist, 18 ; Baptist, 11 ; Congregational, Church of Christ, Lutheran, and Salvation Army, 2 each ; Bands of Hope, 31; W.C.T.U., 37; Prohibition League, 41 ; Good Templars, 36 ; Rechabites, 19 ; Alliance, 7 ; associated visitors, 8 each. Church or temperance societies within the provincial division of Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay were entitled to send two delegates. TIMARXJ, May 24. A Temperance Convention held to-day under the auspices of the Prohibition League was attended by about 50 delegates from town and country centres. Resolutions were carried : — (1) Urging temperance electors to use their political power to obtian a colonial option vote, option polls to be independent of general election days, and the inclusion of all forms of license under popular vote ; (2) that provision be made for the appointment of scrutineers at local option polls ; (3) declaring the prohibition que&tion • independent of party politics; (4) urging temperance voters to vote reduction as well as no license ; (5) to contest committee elections as far as possible; (6) that special services be held throughout the colony on the 3rd September and sth November next; (7) that the commissioner of police and general manager of railways be requested to encourage total abstinence among their men by giving preference to abstainers in making promotions ; (8) urging every church to establish a Sunday school band of hope. A motion that Parliament be petitioned to prohibit transfers of licenses was disapproved, and a protest against the practice substituted. The only legislation asked for is by the first and second rasolut.iorjg.

AUCKLAND, May 24.

A temperance breakfast and conference was held to-day to welcome Mr Thomas E. Taylor, M.H.R. .Nearly 200 persons sat down. The Rev. W. J. Williams, president of the Prohibition League, presided; and a number of clergy were present. A telegram was sent- to the Palraerston North Convention — "Auckland temperance workers send hearty greetings and wishes for services." A resolution was carried thanking Mr Taylor for his services in Parliament and elsewhere to the cause of social reform. The following, moved by the Rev. W. Ready, was also carried: — "That this meeting rejoices in the evidence of growing sympathy with the movement which aims at the suppression of the liquor traffic, and pledges itself to renewed efforts to secure a triumpll for temperance principles at the forthcoming local option poll.' 1 Mr Taylor, in reply, said he hoped a Dumber of electorates would be captured at the elections for prohibition, as only a small number wab required over the votes polled at the last eiectior to turn defect •'>!'■•> -k i+ o™ .

A convention at Balclutha this week carried the following resolutions: — "This convention of representatives from all parts of the Clutha beg to call the attention of Commiseioner Tunbridge and Inspector Pardy to the fact that sly grog is being sold in Clutha — at Balclutha, Tapanui, Clinton, and Kelso — to such an extent that several persons have been seen under the influence of liquor. The conven tion are of opinion that the detection of the sly grog-sellers should not be beyond the capability of the New Zealand police force, and would urge the commissioner to take active measures to have these offenders prosecuted and convioted. " ' "This meeting urge the Government to introduce legislation during the coming session of Parlia^ ment providing for the appointment of scrutineers at the local option polls apart from those appointed by parliamentary candidates ; also, for the re-enactment of the provisions of the act of 1895 and 1896, securing the right of the people to vote on the question of colonial prohibition." A committee was appointed to reply to the pamphlet on the working of prohibition in the Clutha district.