AFTERNOON SESSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 131, 4 June 1901, Page 2

AFTERNOON SESSION.

At the afternoon session of the. Alliance it was decided to federate with the British National Temperance Union Council, provided that the Alliance should remain unfettered in respect to its own platform and action. It was also agreed to congratulate the Young Maori Party on their successful initiation of a reform movement, aiming a-t the social, intellectual, and religious advancement of their race.

The meeting strongly protested against the proposal to legalise the sale of liquor, under any system, in the King Country, and urged that section 33 of the Alcoholic Liquor Sale Control Act Amendment Act, 1895, be made applicable to the district, and that the prohibitory laws be stringently enforced.

A series of resolutions were passed protesting against the substitution of provincial for electorate district option; the bestowal of power upon the Colonial Secretary to reverse a local option vote; the submission to a referendum of: the term between option polls. The election of Alliance officers resulted as follows: —On the motion of Mr Maunder, seconded by Mr T. .1. Bull, the Rev. Hugh Kelly, M.A., was elected president. Fifty-four vice-pre-sidents were re-elected, the name of Mr W. Spedcling being added. The names of Mr A. R. Atkinson, M.H.R., and Mr S. Iloby wore added to the executive. The following resolution was adopted

—"The members of this meeting determine that they will endeavour to induce their fellow electors to vote at Parliamentary elections only for men ot sterling character, irrespective of party, who may be, trusted not to promote legislation which will lead to the degradation and destruction of the Maori, nor to withhold from tbe electors of the colony the right tq deal as they please with the liquor traffic in all its branches."

On the motion of Mr Maunder, the following resolution was carried unanimously:—"This meeting expresses its regret that it is deprived of the presence and services of Ihe Rev. T. .1. Wills, who, having come to Auckland as President of the New Zealand Alliance, has been laid aside by severe illness, and assures him nf its deep sympathy with him, and its desire for his rocovery."

A proposal to extend the scope of tbe Alliance by enrolling temperance societies produced an interesting discussion, in which Mesrs Hill, Spedding, Carr, and others took part. The following resolution was eventually oarried:—"That the Executive shall be empowered to authorise temperance societies, so desiring, to call themselves "Branches of the New Zealand Alliance," without incurring financial responsibility, or to enrol their members as members of the Alliance on the same terms, and that tbe members of such branches, or those enrolled under- the above provision, shall be entitled to attend the annual meeting, to take part in discussions, and to vote on all questions except such as affect the finances of the society." A paper by Mr F. J. Alley, of Am-bju-ley, advocating the formation of a society to promote knowledge of scientific temperance, was read, and its general purport approved. The paper was referred to a sub-committee consisting of Messrs J. E. Taylor, C. G. Hill, Dewar, Isitt, and the Chairman, to report on Wednesday. The question of temperance work among the Maoris gathered at Rotorua as considered, and the Rev. T. G. Hammond was requested to confer with the Revs. Gittos, F. Bennett, and others, including several native ministers, and report, at a subsequent sesThe question of the appointment of an Alliance agent to reside in Auckland was brought before the meeting and referred to a sub-committee consisting of Mrs Thorne, Rev. 11. Kelly, Messrs Bull, French, Hill, J.E. Taylor, Cooper, G. Maunder, and Isitt. OPEN-AIR MEETING.

The Auckland branch of the New Zealand Alliance held an open-air meeting last evening, at' the corner of Queen and Grey streets. Owing to the boisterous weather the attendance was hot very large. Mr. R. French presided. Addresses were tiven by Rev. J. H. Walker, of the Central Mission, Mr. C. G. Hill, and the chairman. The Central Mission brass band voluntarily lent their services and assisted throughout the

meeting,