NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 192, 9 May 1924, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Alliance was commenced in the Congregational School Hall, Bowen Street, yesterday. The session was opened by the singing of “All People That on Earth Do Dwell.” prayer la ing offered by Rev. Holland. The Rev. J. Dawson called the roll, and delegates from all parts of tho Dominion responded. The president, Air. J. I. Royds, welcomed those present. He spoke optimistically of the future prospects of the alliance. Air. Royds emphasised the fact tliat the need to fight the liquor traffic was just as great as ever. He shortly reviewed tho work of the year, and showed that a good deal of satisfactory progress had been made. The general secretary, tho Rev. J. Dawson, presented the annual report. The report recorded tho formation of eleven areas embracing the seventy-six electorates for each of which an organiser had been secured. It also noted the formation of a young people’s department, which was doing effective work amongst the Bible classes associated with tho churches, and was reviving the Band of Hope movement. Special work amongst tho Maoris was being carried on by tho Rev. R. T. Haddon, a Maori missioner. Amongst items in the annual review were noted the protests‘by way of meetings and deputations against the proposal to introduce license into the King Country: and the numerous violations of the licensing law in regard to six o’clock closing. In regard to the latter the report states: “The fact that (lie six o’clock closing is better pbservod than was ten o’clock or eleven o’clock is not good enough, for all trade between six p.m. and nine a.m. is illegal trade and should be stopped at once and for ever, and (he police have more time and better facilities than ever they had under the longer hours for sale.” The report also points out that whereas the liquor traffic had promised a revenue of d!2 1 500,(Xk) per annum, the official figures for 1922 and 1923 calendar years total only <£3,024,739, instead of .£5,000,009. That is to say, over two years the deficit is <£1,975,261 as compared with what the liquor traffic promised tho voters.

A committee was set up to draft a resolution bearing pn a resolution that was passed by the executive of the Commercial Travellers’ Association at its annual meeting held in March last, which asked for the abolition of tho three-year poll. Tire report recorded tho deaths of

lion. Dr. A. K. Newman, Hon. G. Carson, Dr. de Latour. Messrs. .1. .1. AVcsney, G. AV. H Maunder, am the. Rev. A. Doull, also Miss .lane Roberts. Mrs Margaret .lanes, and Mrs. A. Jamieson. At tho call of the president tho delegates stood in token of respect, to their memory and sympathy with tneir l< The'balance-sheet was presented by the Rev AV. J. Comrie on behalf ot the treasurer, Mr. J. AV. Brown. Ihis was discussed and adopted. Tho conference will continue to-day.