LICENSING POLL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19481, 30 November 1928, Page 9

LICENSING POLL.

WHY PROHIBITIONISTS FAILED. PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY DEBATE. [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, November 29. A lively debate oh a matter which affects tho relationship botween tho Presbyterian Church and tho Now Zealand Alliance took placo at, the session of ilio General Assembly to-day. In the absence of those whose names were sponsoring tho recomnior.dation, tho C'lcrk of the Assembly (tho We v. J. H. Mackenzie) moved ;i resolution suggesting that each Presbytery should appoint a Temperance Committee, recommending the appointment ui : Bands of Hope, and advising; tho reappointment of the convener of tho Temperance Committee as representative of tho Presbyterian Church on the executive of tho New Zealand Alliance. Tho resolution was seconded by Mr W. A. Patterson, of Wellington. i)r. J. Gibb, of Wellington, moved that the resolution be added to by suggesting to tho Alliance that it should endeavour to secure the restoration of tho principle of local option. 'T believe," he said, ''that if wo had held on to local option we should by now have New Zealand dry." (Applause.) "There is too much of a Tendency on the part of tho Allianco to compromise with the world," declared Mr J. Aitken, of WiVnganui, in setting forth ten reasons whv Prohibition had not been carried. These reasons included tho effect of the merger of liquor interests in the dominion ; the propaganda of the liquor Party, tho lack of publicity given to Prohibition propaganda in the newspapers, tho citing of America as an oxan'iplo, th© exteut to which immigrants favoured the liquor traffic, the effect of six o'clock closing, tho> dropping by the Prohibitionists of education among the young people, the fact of the two polls beifig taken together, too much compromise on tho part of the Alliance with the world, and the growth of drinking among young people. "It is a matter- of common knowledge," declared the speaker, "that young peoplo are drinking to a> great extent."

A voice: Somo of thorn. Mr Aitken: Yes, I do not say all. A great many of our young women, arc* taking copkUUs and other kinds of Jiquor, and along with the cocktail goes the cigarette. wlio taught the girls to smoke P It was the bojs, and who taught the hoys to smoke? It was the men. (Laughter.) Thero are hundred s of drinkers who are willing to sftorifice their drink if Prohibition comes. Are you willing to give up' your smoking for the benefit you will confer on the youth of this country P (Applause,) The Alliance found staunch Blip- •• porters in t}io Rev. W. J.' Conjne> of Wellington, the Rev. Dr-. Erwin, of Chriatohuroh, the Rev. Joljin Poterson, of Wanganui, and others, white tllO Hon. Mr Gow said that after bis recent visit to Canada and the United States _ ho was convinced the nearer the people qf New Zealand approached to Prohibition the nearer they would beto the ideal method for this Dominion. The Rev. J. Ryburn expressed theopinion that the Alliance was becoming a political body, and that the Church should organise so as to get. back to the methods of imparting moral and spiritual instruction in an educational campaign among tho youth. A striking clause in the report; Qt •the Temperance Committeo was; in® committee emphatically assert that tno defeat of the licensing Bill is further evidence of the power of the liquor trade over the political machine, and urges our people to combine their dojnand that the people be permitted to decide the liquor auestion according W demooratio principles.'' v . The Rev. J. H.' MaokenaieexpreMed. sorrow and disappointment that twoy had made so little progress, if any, theJast poll. v - Speakers criticised the poljoyjpf the and tho Hev. J, A. Ryburii ; (Eltham) moved thfe deletion of a clause , reappointing the convener of the Tem- .y perance Committeo as 9 representativo of the Alliance. He said it was time • the Church took its own work in hand. • The Alliance had neglected education, and become purely political. Mr Coleman, of Hawera, favoured . severing all connexion with the Alii-' ; ance. . The debate was adjourned-