NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 287, 2 December 1911, Page 10

NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

A "TOP LIKET PROCESSION. INTERFERED WITH BY RAIN. A feature of the Xo-Laeense campaign ■was the procession held to-day. Had the weather not been so 'bleak and ■wet no doubt there -would have been a larger turn out, great preparations having been made to ensure a big display. So large was the number of entries received, that it was decided to engage the services of no less i&an six bands to enliven tie procession. [Altogether there were 165 entries which included 250 vehicles. When the rain set in the telephone was going pretty frequently at the Alliance office to learn if the procession would go on, and the invariable answer was: "Short of an earthquake or a deluge there will be a procession." In spite of the steady rain a number of decorated vehicles, filled -with smiling children assembled at the rendezvous. The vehicles bore striking texts and mottos, and it was evident that but for the rain the display would have been a picturesque one. As it was the ''Queen of Temperance" and her maids of honour had their finery covered with cloaks. Some of the Rechabites and Good Templars turned out in regalia, and in a cab drawn 'by two greys were the Hon. Geo. Forwlde, "Messrs. C. H. Poole, W. J. Speight, and Mr. Arthur Withy. One van had a motto "I/abour for Xo-Lacense," and on it were bricklayers plying their trade. The rain beat somewhat pitilessly down on flowers and tinsel and fantastic drapery, changing what would have undoubtedly been hundreds of merry children delighted at participating in what and in m any cases ratberTHM to them was a gala outing into crowded lorries and wagons cf cold, j saturated, and in many cases rather wretched looking young people. Infinite pains, patience, and not a little skill had evidently been spent in decking I many of the vehicles, and even beI draggled as they all were by the soaking j rain, the beauty and ingenuity of some lof the designs provoked hearty applause j from the watching crowds. Conspicuous was a larjre lorry drawn by six fine greys, caparisoned with blue and white, and attended by outriders and footmen. In this lorry was enthroned the 'Queen of Prohibition," wet but smiling under her light canopy of blue and white, and attended by maidens, meant as ma ; ds of honour doubtless, but looking in their striding pannerrts and -tresses more like water nymphsThe onerous duties of secretary were attended to by Mr John Banbury, while Mr. Falkner was marshal.