NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 246, 19 October 1886, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

A deputat.ov from this body was introduced at the meeting of tbe Auckland Synod yesterday afternoon The deputation consisted of Sir W. Fox, Messrs Glover, Coupland, and Buchanan. The deputation wera welcomed on thoirentrance by Bishop Cowie. Sir Wm. Fox said the object of the organisation which he represented was to promote one branch of the temperance cause. He need not dilate on the evils arising from intemperance amongst the Anglo-Saxon people. It had beon truly said by Mr Buckstone, one of the greatest brewers of the world, that the mortality from drink exceeded that of war ana famine. There wore two ways of grappling with tho evil. One was to take tho man from the drink,and the other to take the drink from the man. There were already a number of organisations which were aoing much to lessen the evil. Their object was to invoke the assistance of the Church of Eng'.and in this colony in their efforts to tako the drink from the man, which could only be done ultimately by political action. They could not approach Parliament with this end in view till they had the sympathy of the people, and of the institutions working amongst them. The a- sietance of none'was more valued than that of the churches, and they looked forward hopefully to the day when they would have the churches and women on tiieir side. They had many of the women working with them, and great assistance had been rendered by the (Jhurch of England. The reports prepared by the Commissions appointed by the Canterbury Convocation and the Convocation of York had lent valuable assistance to the temperance cau&e. Ti. ey had already the support of religious bodies in various directions, and if .hey felt convinced that they could add to tho list the co-operation of thia great body of the Christian Church they would feel strengthened and encouraged.—The Bishop, in replying, said they took a great interest in the work in which the deputation was engaged, and many members of the Synod were also connected with the Alliance. He felt sure that not only he but all the members of the Sy nod would be glad to second their efforts in the cause of temperance. Mr Clover referred to the satisfactory results of the prohibition system, which was in existence at Albertland and Waipu. They wanted not only the sympathy, but also the practical help, of bodies such as that, and he regretted to say that if there was any body that lacked interest in thia work, it waa the body amongst the representatives of which they were at that time. He quoted the words of Canon Wilberforce that they must not be satisfied till they had secured progressive prohibiten —that is, prohibition as fast as the people are ready for it. There wore now 7,000 ministers of the Established Church in England who were total abstainers, and fully that number of clergymen again who were added io the number, and who were working with them. He hoped a iesoluiion would be passid by the Synod, inviting the co operation of elegy and laity in this work. Sir William Fox responded on behalf of the deputation, which then withdrew.