THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12364, 1 December 1905, Page 5

THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

'■ —*- At a meeting of the Lyttelton Nolicense League, presided over by Mr J. S. Olliver, it was derided to hold a young people's demonstration on ' the Sunday afternoon ■ preceding tho poll, when Messrs T. E. Taylor, G. Laurenson and others, will speak. Much public interest was taken in t!he lecture delivered at Blenheim on Wed- 4 ne'day by the Rev. Father Servajctan on" prohibition (says a Press Association telegram). • Tlie hall was crowded, and among those pifesent was the Rev. Mr | Fairclough, of Wellington, who wan announced to speak the following night, in reply to Father Serva jean's views. The lecturer said tliat his ad- I dress was prompted by a letter he had received from the New Zealand Alliance j asking him to. preach a special temperance sermon in view of the coming elections. He resented the"" letter as an interference, as he never lost an opportunity of < urging his congregation to temperance. This incident led to correspondence in the Press, and to his appearance on the public platform. The address strongly disapproved of the principle of prohibition and No-license, but condemned the present open bar system, and the evils of the "shouting" custom. The speaker suggested tha Continental cafe system, which, from experience he could say did not encourage exoessive drinking. Speaking of Ashburton. he had just telegraphed to Father O'Donnell, the parish priest thero, asking him if prohibition was really a benefit, and the reply was.— "No; taking all things into consideration, prohibition is not a benefit." Tho speaker got an excellent hearing. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TEL_OItAM.) BLENHEIM, November 30. A crowded audience listened to-nigM to the reply made by the Rev. Mr. Fairclough, of Wellington, to the lecture on prohibition delivered by tho Rev. Father Sorvajean. In the course of his defence of the No-licenso system the lecturer dealt with Father Servajean's evidence that No-Hcense was not entirely successful in Ashburton. He produced telegrams received from seven ' ministers of religion in Ashburton in reply to urgent messages enquiring who-, iher No-licenso benefited Ashburton. Five replies were unreservedly in the affirmative. The Anglican minister telegraphed: — "Commercially doubtful, morally and socially decidedly yes." Father O'Donnell telegraphed "Decidedly,not." At the conclusion-of the address Father Servajean ascended the stage and asked a number of questions. The .proceedings were entirely good natured.