ALLIANCE CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1155, 16 June 1911, Page 6

ALLIANCE CONGRESS.

OFFICERS ELECTED. JUBILEE THANKSGIVING FUND. 18 Tho New Zealand Alliance Conventioi c . reopened yesterday morning, under tin y presidency of tho Rev. W. J. Elliott (Ashr_ burtin). Tho proceedings, as on othei _ days, were in camera. • Tho first- paper was contributed by Mr, W.. J. .M'Derniott (Auckland), his subject being "Demonstrations." He confined his remarks largely to display procession; and open-air services. An animated conversation resulted in the unanimous adoption of a resolution urging the organisation of such spectacular displays. Resolutions were also adopted recommending a pledge-signing campaign, and an appreciation of the magnificent service rendered by Air. A. S. Adams in replying to Professor Salmond's pamphlet. t Tho Rev. A. Dewdney, chairman of the „ executive, then presented tho budget for 6 1911-12, which was heartily accepted and adopted. 3 The election of officers resulted as iollows:—President, Mr. Wesley Spragg (Auckland); vice-president, Mr. A. S. e Adams (Dunedin); secretary, the liev. .T. , Dawson; general organiser, the Rev. F. W. Isitt; Executive Committee—represen--1 tativc of the W.C.T.U., Mrs. Atkinson; 1.0. G.T., Jlr. T. Townsond; 1.0. R., Mr. j T. Fathers; Sons and Daughters of Temperance not yet appointed, with Revs. E. I 0. Blamires, W. J. Comrie, A. Dewdney, W. S. Potter, J. J. North, Sfandage, Messrs. A. R. Atkinson, A. J. Bennett, Colonel Birkenshaw, J. W. Brown, R. G. i Denton; J. B. Finlay, W. J. Ilillyor, A. J Moby, B. Low, ,T. Nicholl, R. Pearson, G. l I'etherick. A large and representative f body of vice-presidents and a strong Consultative Committee wero also elected. ( ' The next convention is to be held in 3 Christchurcb. ' . ' The convention adopted most heartily a ; scheme to raise not less than .£25,000 . as a Silver Jubilee Thanksgiving Fund, ' and empowered the executive to carry out the details. It is proposed, should it be necessary to appoint a special organiser therefor, that the Rev. A. Dewdney bo . named, and his church requested to liberate him. No-License in Operation, Tho afternoon session was taken up with addresses by delegates from No-License areas. The first address was from Ashburton. Tho Rev. W. J. Elliott .said the population of the borough of Ashburton was about 3000, but- a largs number of, people lived just outside tho borough. "Ashburton is one of tho cleanest and soundest towns of its size that I have ever been acquainted with. It is a gross libel on the town to say that No-License has in the least retarded its growth and progress." Mr. Elliott quoted figures showing that the record of building progress was phenomenal. The increase of deposits in the Building Society was most gratifying. There had been a great increase in the consumption of gas, and in this respect, at any rate, Ashburton was "going to blazes/' The churches had shared in the general prosperity, and one church had abolished its poor fund as there was now no need for it. Mataura, Pastor Bull said"l have lived for six years in Mataura borough, and havo only seen one person arrested for' drunkenness in that place. He did not get drink in the place, but came there drunk. The crimo was greatly reduced,. and the accommodation for travellers was improved. The proprietress of the largest hotel at Gore is the president of the W.C.T.U., and the preliminary meeting of tho local Temperance Society when arranging for a No-License Conference was held in tho one-time liquor bar. Tho irony of tho situation was delightful." ' , Invercargill. Mr. .Froggatt (ex-Mayor of Invercargill) raid ho.had lived there for JO years, and there seemed very little home drinking. Only to-day he had met a mail who said, "I am going back to Invercargill, for I am sure that Invercargill is the best place in New Zealand for tho working man." Mr. Froggatt also gave several instances of business men whom he had, spoken to, whoso business had greatly improved under No-License. Sly grog was. not half as bad now as under License.' Oamaru. The Rev. Mr. Williams said"l have been in Oamaru about a year. My impression is that No-License has been a great improvement. The town is clean and wholesome, and the crime record is being very, greatly reduced. It lias not hurt tho business of the town. A statement had just been made by Sergeant Stagpoole, in which ho said that only between 300 and ■100 people regularly imported liquor, and tho registration at the Court covered 16,000 people. , This showed that it was utterly false to say that liquor was imported into nearly every home." Balclutha. Tho Rev. Mr. Tlosking said that during tho three years he had been at Balclutha tho main street had been almost transformed. One leading storekeeper had told him that his business had been greatly benefited. The small accounts wero paid better. There had been 110 person put 'into gaol in Balclutha for any offence whntever for ten months, and there had been no person arrested in Balclutha for drunkenness caused (byliquor consumed in Balclutha for the last four or five years. Grey Lynn. _ Mr. Watkinson, of Auckland, said that 70 per cent, of tho occupiers of houses at Grey Lynn owned their own homes.' The No-Li'ccr.so - vote had gained 1600 votes on the previous year. He gave particulars of the very great increaso in buildings in Grey Lynn. Bruce. Mr. P. M'Skimmine spoke of Bruce. At Stirling, tho' old hotel had been removed, and in its place a fine Athenaeum had been erected. At Kaitangata there ' had been great good done. There was no talk of sly grog-selling, thougli a number of small kegs of beer wore still imported. In regard to Milton, where there were four hotels in licensc days, a member of tho League had spent, a fortnight in inquiry, and had satisfied himself that there was practically no sly grog-selling. Mastcrton. Mr. M'Gregor said they were very prond of tho great reduction made in the crime record of Masterton. Tho abattoir returns had increased strikingly, showing i that the consumption of meat was greatly i increased. Also ' the Savings Bank re- : turns had increased by a thousand pounds a month, compared with the last vear of license. 'After all the inquiries he had ' made, he was unaware of a single homo where liquor was now kept, and where it was not kept in license days. He' did know, however, of .several homes where ; liquor used to be kept and drunk freely 1 and where liquor was not now kept. ' i Waihi. The Rev. F. A. Thomsou said tho ! amount paid out as 'charitable, aid at ' Waihi had decreased,by i; 23. The charge ! of increase of poverty was utterly unfounded. Tho account given by Mr."Poole of the riot jn license days was correct; 1 but there were no riots now. He had been j constantly about tho town now for some four months, and had never heard an oath. Tho miners of Waihi were gentlemen. '■ Eden. Mr. Falkner, speaking of Eden, said that friends of his near old hotels reported that in former years they used to bo greatly troublod by drunken persons ] but not at all since No-License. ■ Wellington South and Suburbs. , Tho Rov. Mr. Dpwdney said that the re- : sidents of these districts wero quite satis- '> fie<l with the present condition of affairs. 1 Ho believed that they would increase their voto for No-Licchse. " i .—