THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14986, 5 June 1914, Page 3

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

DISCUSSED BY TI3LUIU 'PRESBYTERY. rSPEC7.iI. XO "THE-TRESS.") TTMAIIU, Juno 4. jTie No-Jicenso question was briefly discussed at a mooting of the Timaru Presbytery yesterday. A letter was read from the Assembly's' Temperance Committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, in which it \vas state-J that >otv Zealand wa-s now within a few months of tho poll, and it was high time ■to make all preparations for active service. .Jho prospects of success in tho campaign appeared to be particularly good this year, and the Prohibition sentiment seemed to.bo rapidly growing. lh.-. Uev. T. Stinson moved: "(1) That, in view of the terrible evils inseparable from the drink traffic, the Presbytery., in harmony with trie decision of the General Assembly, earnestly urges on all members and adherents within the bounds the duty of supporting, in every suitable way. both local no-license and national 'prohibition, and of voting solidly for both issues by striking out the top lino on each ballot paper; (2) that the Presbytery exhorts all ministers and members of kirk sessions to bo untiring in their efforts to rouse tho conscience of tho people to the clamant necessary for co-operation on tho part of every professing Christian, with a view to ending the- liquor traffic within our bounds at'tjp approaching licensing p011. ,.

Tho Rev. 0. Kins ?aid thai he had baon misunderstood tv7o years ago. when ho had 5:.(.-oudcr] ;j motion Uy the Rev. C. Mat-douald, that tJiir- matter of cemperanco bo left to individual ministers to deal with as (.hoy thought- fit. Because he had *econded this, motion, ho had 'icon acusod of being ;ii iavour of the iirjuor traffic. That was entirely erroneous Ho believed in doing nil they could f.o eiinininfe tliis traffic, and would second Mr Stiiuon's motion.

The liev. C. Maci'lonald said that, as there was not tue ;-malle.st chance .or hope of the drink qucatiuu being settled in anything like a satisfactory or permanent manner, lie would move: ""That minister? of tho Presbytery be exhorted, when dealing with the temparance question, to keep strictly to the teaching of Scripture. - "'

This motion found no seconder, and 3fr Stinson's motion carried without dissont.