THE NO-LICENSE RALLY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 118, 17 November 1908, Page 7

THE NO-LICENSE RALLY.

Tlie Xo-liconse party held a "rnlly" on tho vacant section opposite t!u* post office last night, when there were fully 800 persons present', th;crowd being a particularly - ii< ;?1naturodone. Music was suppli< 1 l-y .tho combined Dannevirko and .Salvation Army bands, aud the sp«-;-.!;c/-i | addressed the people from a raised platform. The opening address was delivered by Mr A. E. Ransom, president of the No-license League, who took for the text of Ids argument the financial side of the question in favor of NoJieeusc. He quoted largely from statistics to show that tho only benefit tho borough derived from the liquor trade was the license fees which amounted to £220, but as the annual increase in tho revenue was £150 per annum the loss of the fees would not seriously hamper the bor- j ough. He mentioned that Invercar- j gill had been able to reduce its rates under No-license, * which was proof that No-license did not bankrupt a town. £30,000 was annually spent on drink in Dannevirko, while the cost of the whole administration of the dominion was £28,000 less than New Zealand's annual drink Bill. He concluded with an appeal to all to vote for No-licenso for tho sake of moral considerations. The Rev. T. T. Thomas, who was the next speaker, addressed himself to s refuting various arguments advanced by the License party, making an especial denial of the theory that .sly grog shops would spring up in a I No-licenso area. He also quoted largely from the testimony of residents in No-licerise areas to show tho success of the system there, and con- j eluded with an eloquent peroration in which he invited all to strike out the, top line for the sake of the women and children. Adjutant Thurkettle read an extract from the War Cry in refutation of the statement mado.by the Liquor party that General Booth was opposed to prohibition. Ho also denied a rumor that ho had received a donation towards tho new barracks fund on condition that the army voted Nolicense. Organiser Crist was the last speaker, and the burden of his address, which was relieved by a running fire of good nsitured banter, was to give No-license a" trial. Tho playing of the National Anthem terminated the gathering.