ASHBURTON PRESBYTERY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9747, 13 December 1922, Page 8

ASHBURTON PRESBYTERY.

THE RECENT LIQUOR POLL

Tli© Presbytery mat in . St. Andrew s Presbyterian Church an Tuesday, when there were present : The Revs. C. Hercus (Moderator), W. Marshall (clerk), A. S. Morrison, & Miller, and R. McCully, and Messrs M. Bruce C. Oakley, Macfatlane, and Locke, elders. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs McDowell (Hinds )and v*il.mour (Flemington). _ ' Messrs Morrison, Marshall, Hercus, ami Locke, who had attended the General Assembly at Auckland last month, gave an interesting account ol :the proceedings at that gathering emphasising the value of the Assembly in ?the direction of helping the individual to forget his own. little concerns in 'the larger interests of the Church. Ihe delegates stated that there were some impressive occasions at the Assembly, a very fine spirit pervaded it, and that altogether it was a gathering whose memory would long abide. The Presbytery called for an expected report regarding the Church s .work and prospects at Wakanui, but was disappointed, as none was forth- . coming, the office-bearers having failed \ keep their appointment to meet and -report to their Moderator so that he -could report to Presbytery. Mr Miller reported that the Wesleyan Church building at Greenstreet had been purchased for the Presby- ' terian Church by Mr John Shearer, who had in the meantime generously financed the transaction. On the motion of Mr Morrison, the Presbytery expressed its thanks to Mr Shearer. There -was a lengthy discussion over "the results of the recent option poll. Mr Armstrong, the agent of the JNew Zealand Alliance, gave an inspiring address. Members of Presbytery had very little of the note of discouragement in their speeches, and expressed gratification that, notwithstanding the •great fight to remain license, Ashburton had not been lost to the Prohibition Party. The Presbytery adopted a motion expressing its satisfaction with the net results in the face of the supreme efforts of the licensed trade and the Moderate League, pledging itself to renewed efforts and determination yet to win. . . The Presbytery closed its business with a vote of cordial appreciation of the attitude of the “Guardian” in its support of No-liccns© and in the fight against Restoration.