LICENSING LAWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 184, 4 August 1900, Page 4

LICENSING LAWS.

PROTEST PROM THE CHURCHES

The Council of the Evangelical Churches of England district' met at the V.M.C.A. rooms this week, the Rev. Canon Calder presiding, when the following resolution was passed. "That this meeting of the Evangelical CTounc.il of I'he Christian Churches (representing thirty churches, including Anglicans, Presbyterians, Con:Sfregationa,lists, Wesleyans, Baptists, and Primitive Methodist Churches) views with great concern the proposed alterations in the licensing laws of the colony as outlined by the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, in his address to the Wellington deputation. This Council records its deep conviction that the proposals are retrograde in their character, and would prove mischievous in their results. That to open up the King Country to the sale of alcohbHo liquors is contrary to the best interests of.the Natives and opposed to the solemn agreement made with the 'Natives in 1885, and that the change from local option to colonial option, from triennial appeals to electors to vote once in nine years, the removal of the vote for reduction, and the uniform hour of closing, is contrary to the will of the eoutnry. This meeting, therefore, respectfully protests against the proposed alteration and urges that clause 33 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act. 1893, be applied to the King Country." The Council also decided that copies of the resolution be forwarded to the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon. and the representatives in the Auckland City and.District.