CANTERBURY NO-LICENSE COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13094, 20 April 1908, Page 3

CANTERBURY NO-LICENSE COUNCIL.

Tho Canterbury No-license Council held its annual convention m the -.W.C.A. rooms on Friday. The President, Mr J. A. Flesher, occupied the chair, and th© me.tti*s> -ax-to veil at- j tended by delegates irom ail parts ot : (.'anterburv. | Tbe President stated that the Hon. G. Fowlds,- who had been invited to attend, rogrett-d that his engagements prevented Jiis doing so, but lie wished tho convention every (success. The near approach of the licensing poll brought with it signs of increa-sed activity on all siUes. The events of tho past year in connection with the hotels in this district afforded ample food for reflection, and. the lessons to be- learnt therefrom showed the necessity for tne election of strong njen to take part m tho administration of licensing matters. In connection with tho question of women drinking in hotels he quoted cortain comparative data presented by Dr. Podstata, tho superintendent of the Illinois Mental Hospital, showing tho baneful effects of alcohol on offspring. Certain legislative proposals would be placed before the convention, which would need careful consideration. The position of the No-license movement in New Zealand was making iteelf felt, not only in Australia, but also in Great Britain itself. The splendid results achieved in New South Wales were matters for congratulation. It was encouraging to find tho growing desire for licensing reform in England, and the increasing interest on the part of all sections of the Christian Church in the matter. Recently the British Temperance League had made an effort to unite the churches, with a view to securing an effective measure of temperance reform, which they urged should provide for: (1) An early termination of tho vested interests created in licenses; (2) Sunday closing; (3) earlier week-night closing; (4) closing on election days; (o) the exclusion of children under fourteen years of ago from licensed premises; (15) prohibiting the further engagement- of barmaids; (7) an effective control or clubs; and. (8) giving to tho people full control over the issue and renewal of licenses by a direct popular vote. This appeal was circulated amongst tho representative clergy of th_ Church of England, and to a selection of representative names from amongst Nonconformist ministers. Eightysix per cent of the replies received from tho clergy of the Church of England gave an emphatic adhesion to this programme of legislation. In March last a meeting cf clergymen representing almost every line of religious thought was held in San Francisco, when tho principle was unanimously affirmed that it was just and equitable that society should, require the saloon to pay all costs and expenses brought upon the public by it. At this meeting Father Caraher, representing the Catholic Church, and the llev. Father O'Ryan, representing the Archbishop, strongly supported, a pro►posal to make the license fees so high as to oompel the closing of saloons. The secretary's report stated that Mr and Mm Smeddley were expected to commence work soon in tho Waitaki electorate.

Mr G. B. Nicholls read a paper on " Nc-licenso "Work in Otago." Tlie following officers were appointed:—President, Mr J. A. Flesher; vice-presidents, Mrs Cole, Mr EM, M.P., and Rev. Lawry; secretary, Mr Charles P. Agar; treasurer, Mr It. B. Ellison ;. committee, Messrs J. M'Ccmb, J. S. Olliver, R. M. Cress*-11, W. Harding, R. Alcorn, Hon. J. Barr, Rev. L. Hudson, Misses Bishop and Roberts, and Mrs Spenoer. Tlie treasurer presented hL-. report, which showed a credit of £7 7s 7d. Tho afternoon session was occupied chiefly by reports from organising agents. The ovening session was devoted-to a discussion on three papers read by Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., on "The Reduction Issuer'; by Mr L._ M. ..Isitt,. on "Our- Parlkmemfkry v Programme?'; and by. Rev. S. Lawry on 'Our Relation to Parliamentary Candidates and tho Questions to bo asked them." Se<voral motions relative to no-licei_o •were passed.