N.Z. ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3122, 28 June 1917, Page 7

N.Z. ALLIANCE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE EARLY CLOSING QUESTION Tho annual conforonco of the Now ilea, land Alliance was opened in Wellington yesterday. Delegates ivoro present lrom all parts of tho Dominion, among them Rev. P. ,S. Smallfield, D.A. (president), Mrs.-Don (president' W.OT.U.), Rev. Ji. S. Gray, ltov.W. J. William.,,' Mr. A. S. Adams (ex-presidents), Mrs. Leo-Cowio (organisor \No\y Zealand Strength, of Nation. Movement), lire. Napier (•Edinburgh), Bov. W. J. Comrio (chairman of exeoutive), and How J. Da«-6on (secretary). Tho presidont, llcr P. S. Smullfield, welcomed tho delegates, and in a brief but comprchonsivo resuraio roviowed tho thirty years of tho Alliance work, and spoke moat hopefully of the future. The socretary (Rev. J: Dawson) read tho annual report. A short discussion ensued, -which was of a very congratulatory character. Tho financial statement 'jmd balance-shoot wan read and after discussion was passed. Notices of .motion wore, given in reference to education, finance, and electoral roform. Following nro extracts from tho annual report:— "The timo has como for Parliament cither to go forward or for its members to be sot nside. The absolute minimum l that can be accepted is that no liquor shall be sold, eithor wholesale of rotail, in browery, warehouse, bar, club, or Bellamy's from 6 o'clock at night till 8 o'clock next morning during tho period of the war and for at least six months thereafter. If Parliamont fails,to grant this small measure of reform at onco wo demand that it'shall forthwith 6ubmit tho question of prohibition to a referonilnin of the people, to become oporativo ns soon aa carried, and that not morely as a war measure but as a permanent enactment. If Parliament refuses cither of these, then wo demand that on Juno 30, 191$, every form of license shall pease, for that is the last date for which thoro is any mandato of the people for this monopoly to continue. Tho sum, of 13s. 3d. lias been oxpenedd by three working nion'e clubs alone, and mostly for liquor. What mnst the amount for tho 43 chartered clubs in the Dominion have- been? Wo are cheered with the emphatic utterance of Sir James Allen that thero is to be no wot canteen. As Minister'of Defenco and as a loading patriot of tho land ho knows the risks and tho injury would be too great for tho parents of this land to endure. We are told that thoro are many houses that do so.little business in providing beds and meals for the travelling public that thero would be no inducement for them te remain open, at all if they could not soil liquor, and especially if they had to close at 6 pm. If thero bo ouch houseo, and we accept that statement -without _ reserve, thon we say theso licensee might cease at once and for over. ' In spite of all evidence eo capably presented, and so ably defended, it was only by the casting vote of the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P. for Taranaki, that the committee agreed that tho petition of 100,000 persons should como under the review of the House. Mr. Okey rendered a national service by his public-spirited action. We (specially note tho sevon men who utilised the forces ot the House in an effort to kill tho possibility of tho prayer of 100,000 persons being granted. Let these seven, names stand in association for over in broad contrast to the seven men of Preston. Theso were: Messrs. .T. Vigor Brown, v P (Napier), A. T. Glover, MP. (Auckland) H. M'Callum, M.P. (Wairau , J. Payne, M.P. (Grey Lynn) C. E. Statham, M.P (Dunedin), Dr. Thacker, M.P. (Christchurch), and G Witty MP. Biccarton). For their undemocratic and unpatriotic action may they receive 3 uhl udtrmont from their constituents; Tho afternoon was spent hi informal discussion, and at 5 o'clock the conference rose till 10 a.m. 10-day.