NO-LICENSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 4

NO-LICENSE.

DOMINION CONVENTION. POLLING PROSPECTS. The twenty-fifth annual convention ot tlio New Zealand AUianco was opened yesterday in St. John's Presbyterian Schoolroom. Hr. Wesley Spragg, of Auckland, presided, and as president extended a welcome to tho delegates. Almost every electorate in New Zealand was represented. The press was not admitted, but an official summary o£ tho proceedings was supplied.

The annual report was' presented by tho Rev. J. Dawson. It referred to tlio licensing legislation which had been passed during the year, aud the changes whicli had been made in tho law. During tho year the Education Department had arranged for temperance wall sheets for use in tlio .State schools in the Dominion, so that the boys and girls will bo warned of the dangers of alcohol. Excellent platform work had been dono by Airs. Lee Cowie, Mr. Spragg, and Messrs. T. E. Taylor, C. H. Poole, and If. A. Wright, M.F.'s, and the I'ev. J. Dawson. For tlio coining campaign ill's. Barton' (of Glasgow), Miss Anderson .{lughes, and tho liev. Hr. Hammond (of Sydney), had been engaged. Reference was made to tho pamphlet written by Professor Salmoud in opposition to prohibition, and the excellent reply by Mr. A. S. Adams. Pleasure was expressed that it was now impossible for any new barmaids to be employed in tho Dominion. It was also noted that on June 30 all bottlo licenses woujd be abolished throughout tho Dominion. Tho drink bill for tho year was or .C 3 13s. Id. per head of the population, or an increase of 2s. OJd. per head for the previous year. Figures showed that tho increase in drinking was til the licensing districts, and very little cornparativelv, was drank in No-X,icense areas. Reference was also made to the preparation for tho coming camnaign, and the prospects of a great victory at the polls. Afternoon Session. {j The chair was taken in the afternoon Uy Mr. It. French (Auckland), vicepresident. Mr. J. Budges (Masterton) read a paper entitled: "How to Organise a District." Tlio need for enthusiasm, the creation. No-License League, with all its requisite officers, and the education of the workers, wero dealt with. The qualifications of a ■ canvasser were said to be continuity and adaptability. Suggestions of a valuable nature as to tiie machinery necessary to fully prepare for the polling day were given, and words of warning were uttered as to the appointment of secretaries. Miss Howell, org,miser, Palmerston North, read a paper on "House-to-llouse Canvassing." Alter noting the necessity for the purging of tho roll and the special qualifications possessed by ladies lor canvassing ivork, the speaker dealt with the difficulties met with, the ignorance displayed by voters as to method of registering their votes, and the information required by workers. Yet another paper was contributed by the Rev. AY. U. Ilurlow, tho president of the Thames League, his subject being "The Enrolment of the Voters." Detailing the reasons aud methods by which tho elector's vote can bo dealt with, the reverend gentleman proceeded to advocate the careful collection of all data necessary either to secure enrolment or to challenge any that ..are. questionable. The paper was illustrated by statements of actual work done in the Thames electorate. At this point, the Rev. J. Cocker moved: "That the papers already read bo the subject of discussion prior' to tho reading of the papers to follow." This was carried, and an interesting'discussion was continued for the ensuing hour, many interesting questions being raised, especially anent tho difficulties that have arisen in connection with, the electoral rolls.-' - i ' '• "■ : ■, Mr. G. B. Nicholls, the Dunedin .'organiser, was deputed to open tho question of public meetings iind their organisation. In doing so, he, spoke' of '.the necessity of speakers being secured to appeal to* particular sections of tlio coni.munitv, as for examplo a Labour representative to state the question from, the worker's standpoint'. The organisation of young people's choirs, the collection of information from No-License areas, for circulation in other districts, and the refutation of mis-statement's were also urged. The question of campaign literature was introduced by tho president of tlio' Auckland League (tlio Rev. J. Cocker). Tho speaker advocated tho uso of cartoons, financial tables, dealing with national and economic questions, and narratives emphasising" tlio moral'" aspects of the', question. This-naturally led to the consideration of a special campaign periodical, special advocacy being made for the "Homo Journal," a prohibition publication in Auckland. The IJev. L. M. Isitt, ex-president, and proprietor of the "Vanguard, 11 introduced tho question of advertising, and in doing so he emphasised the following points:—Forwarding of copy to country newspapers, open-air services, the creation of a correspondence committee, use of'wall'posters, and,: tho value of public meetings, especially in the outlying districts. The discussion following dealt with a number of suggestions raised by tlio various paper readers. 'At the close the convention decided to meet' in committeo for this morning's session. A CONVERSAZIONE, LARGE GATHERING AND FIGHTING SPEECHES. ' In tho evening a conversazione was held ill the Concert Chamber of tlio Town Hall, whi'ch held between three and four hundred people. Mr. Wesley Spragg (of Auckland), who, with Mrs, Spragg,' had invited the guests, presided. He apologised for tho absence of Mrs. Spragg, who was prevented from coming to Wellington through illness. On tho platform, also, were Sirs. Barton (of Glasgow), tlio Hon. G. Fowlds, the liev. A. Dewduey (chairman of tlie executive of tho New Zealand Alliance), Rev. L. M. Isitt, and the Rev. F. W. Isitt. In the course of a few preliminary remarks, Mr. Spragg said the supporters of their movement wero going to see this fight through. He. said that the fight should bo looked upon by each individual from a personal point of view, because of the menace it was to the happiness of each home. Tho appeal of tiio temperanco party was made on behalf of the young; and its adherents wero actuated by a desire to help the human race. Referring to tho internal aspect of the movement, lie said that where there was progress there must necessarily be friction, but they must not let this friction break up their machinery or hinder the movement. Ho referred to tho work that was being done in Auckland, and incidentally alluded, with enthusiasm, to the help the Hon. G. Fowlds had given them. "The liquor trade," ho continued, "would kill the Church if it could, and the Church (which includes all people who liavo the spirit of Christ in them) can kill the liquor trade if it will—and it will do so eventually. (Applause.) But wo want tho Church to do that ' now. " (Applause.)' They all recognised that if they 'could get, the money which they would spend ill the next .nine years and concentrate it into',a fighting fund for the next year, llioy would clear'tho liquor trade out in twelve months. (Applau.-e.) lie would like the people with money to caleh hold of that idea. (Applause.) If tho spirit that was abroad in Auckland were to spread over New Zealand, they would soon ,sweep away the trade." The Hon. G. Fowlds. Tho Hon.. G. Fowlds, referring to his friendship l with • tho host and liosfc'-.s of tho evening, which had extended over nearly a quarter of n century, said thai there might be some unkind people who would say he had no right to bo present partaking of their hospitality that evening; but that idea would not. be entertained for a moment. He referred to the granting of tho license, for the Mau-ligatoi-oto district, where, he said, almost all respect for law had been thrown aside, and a license forced into Die district against the will of almost the entire population. (Applause.) Thero was no movement that was compelling the same amount cf self-sacrifice and service without hope of personal reward as tho temperance reform movement. In the pages of history there was recorded only one reform movement as great as the cne_

I ill which they were now Clanged, aiul I that was (lie slavery emancipation luove- | nient. < ApplauM'.) The day had gone Ijy when the linger ol' scorn could be pointed at tliein. 'i'he movement had become respectable, anil it was important to mark that the movement would bring about reforms over the whole Dominion such a-; had been produced in those ili?t which had already carried No-Lie™-:'. (Applause.) It was also important to observe, that at present this temperance work had tho right ol' the ruad in Now Zealand. (Applause.) When it was linished there were other urgent reforms to be undertaken. Therefore it was ncce— sary that, success should come early in their work, so that those energetic people now engaged in it could be liberated to throw themselves into -these other social reforms. (Applause.) An Entertaining Speaker. Mr?. Barton, of Glasgow, who was introduced as ail ex-councillor of Glasgow, and who gave an interesting address, which included anecdotes that kept the audience in rears of laughter, was tho next speaker. She said she had obtained a great inspiration in New Zealand. Here we had won magnificent legislation comparatively easily, while in Scotland they were hampered and kept back. Sho would carry homo with her very happy memories of (he spirit of fellowship and brotherly love that permeated the movement here in New Zealand. Combating the idea that Scotland was a country of drinkers, she said that 55 per cent, of the people were, total abstainers. (Applause.) Mrs. Barton saiil that the eyes of the world were upon the work of this young country in temperance reform, and if any recovery were to be allowed to. the liquor traffic, many other older countries would bo intensely disappointed. Scotland, sho thought, would come second to New Zealand in carrying prohibition. Temperance reformers were out to champion the people and the womenliood; to assist the cause of the workers, and humanity in general. Their cause was a righteous and just cause, and it was further the cause of freedom and of God Himself. (Tho speaker was given an ovation at tho conclusion of her remarks.) The Rev. A. Dewdney made enthusiastic reference to the work of Mr. Wesley Spragg for temperance. ITe said that the present gathering celebrated the twentyfifth anniversary of the New Zealand Alliance. During the evening songs were rendered by the Rev. A. Mitchell and Miss N. Bennett (encored). Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., will he unable to attend tho Conference, and Mr. A. S. Adams (Dunedin) and Mrs. Barton, of Glasgow, will speak to-night.