CANADIAN COMMISSIONER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 129, 1 June 1907, Page 9

CANADIAN COMMISSIONER.

MR. RACE ENTERTAINED.

OPINIONS ON NO-LICENSE. Mr. Race, who was Canada's representative at the Christchurch Exhibition, was entertained at Ctodbei's Rooms at luncheon yer.terd.iv by the executive of tho New Zealand Alliance for tho Suppression of tho Liquor Traffic. The chair was occupied by the lion. Gco. Fowlds, who had the gue^t of the day on his left, and the I^on. C. M. Luke, M.L.C ; on his right. An ppology for absence was received fibni the Hon. Mr M'Xab. Tho Rev. John Daw-son, chairman of the executive, raid the desire was. to farewell Mr. Rpce, who wns leaving on his return to Canada this evening, and to get an expression of opinion rcgardi ing his impressions of New Zealand on the temperance question. The Hon. Mr. Fowlds then proposed the health of tho company's gue<=t. In doing co, the Minister paid a tribute to Mr. Race's qualities as a Gpoaker and observer. The visitor had gone up and down this colony w ith his eyes open, and particularly clear in their gaze upon tho temperance movement in New Zealand. He (tho, speaker) felt sure that Mr. Race would carry back to Canada an accurate account of the colony, and .in assurance that the people of New Zealand had now quite made up their minds that no-lkenso was a success- From its bo ginnings in tho Ciutha district, the move mont had now f-pread over a large im mediato area. In two other localities, Ashburton and Invercargill, no-licenso hud becn.cariied, but its operation had been carried on there under unfavourable conditions, which had prevented harmonious working. But the recent testi momal issued by the business people ot Aihburton clearly proved that no-licenss, was a great success thore. Mr. Fowldc added that he had paid a visit to lnvei cnrjjill within the past few weeks, and had ceen how no-licen3e had been inter feicd with by the beer depots. Tlicmj things had never besn intended undci tho licensing law, and he hoped that steps would soon be taken to remedy a real evil. Nevertheless, tho universal testimony down there was that no-license had been a decided success m Invercargill. Business people declated that thft town was now cleaner, and there was less work for the police. The Ministor behoved that there was r.o likelihood of any of the places wjiich now enjoyed uo-licens:e going back on the movement. On this question tho tendency in New j j Zealand was to go forward, and not j backward. He trusted that Mr. Race ' n-onM icturn to Canada, with this lesson of hope. Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C., also spoke, j saying that when in Christchurch ho hid' heard a great dp.il about Mr. Rncc (l.cfore ho knew him) which endeared )iiin to his heart. Wo were, he added, | looking to Canada as » quid* in reforms which wo aro attempting in this colony to uplift the psople. Rev. WT. J. Connie, president of the No-License Lojgue of WoUington, on behaif of the league, assured 'Mr. Race that New Zealand looked to C:inada to kive them a lead in regard to no-license, and assured him that Lansda't ixamplo | had ctimulatcd them cxccc-Jingly. 'lhe workers in New Zealand bad good hopes, md weio hopeful that in a few years they would have gained the victory with I general "no-liceiua." A fen years ago, he added, it would have been well-nigh impassiblu to get a Minister of the Crown' at a no-license meeting, and they weie delighted at having as chfiini'in one who wj3 prominent ni tht movement, before ho became prominent in the rounscls of the nation. Rev. J. Ward added his congratulations. Re". F. W. Isitt remarked that they in | Xcw Zealand knew how tLo v/orkeis here | had Le:n encouraged by the results of tue working of uo-licerise at Ciutha, which had been m inspiration not only for tho colony but for Ausliaha. He was sure the spirit of tho purty w-as never so strong or bo hopeful as at present. Those who knew — the people who came in contact with the people — believed vad know that victory was coming — not immediately, but under improved political conditions. They wens more hopeful than ever, and they bed abundant icTmi for their hopefulners. (Applause.) In responding to the toast, Mr. Race, who was received with applause, rsmarkcd that when Ministers of the Crown and Ministers of the Gospel coidd meet I on ths same high piano it augured well ! for any land. (Applause.) Ho had, probably, ho added, represented more the j patriotic or sentimental side of his comI mission to New Zealand. As to the Imperial Conference, he said ho was more particularly pleased with the dignified attitude of (Sir Joseph Ward and tho pait played by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, but ! lia could not help thinking that Great Biitain owed nearly as much to tho colonies as tha colonies owed to Great Britain. It was absurd to suppose that Great Britain alone could compote with, say America if she stood alono than sho could think of going to tho moon. Her commerce depended to a great extent on her colonial possessions, but if left to j haiself jealous nations would pounce upon her and b3 ablo to dictato terms. j Sha needed her colonial possessions to ! retain her present position. Canada was loynl to the British Empire, and the first aspiration of every Canadian was that it should continue to be a material hub in tho chain of Empire. (Applause.) New Zealand was a bsautiful . land, with the most picturesque landscapes that he had ever seen, but mott of all he admired its pastures and agricultural lands. Tho greatest asset, however, was our men and women, our boys and girls. lie admired out education system, which was excellent, and tho discipline in the schools war. almost perfect..The home life in 'New Zealand was r.omething to bo commended, too ; and i he was leaving; the colony with keen regret. Regarding the temperance movement, he had had more to do with the licensing system at homo than with the prohibition movement. The licensing jaw in Canada was bettor than that of New Zealand. In Canada a licensed house could have only ono bar, whilst \ho licensees and bartenders , must have n tlnracter. Barmaids did not obtain over tlipre ; for a woman to - be behind *,he bar in Canada would mean that the woman had the worst of characters. (Co had been surprised ai. tho beauty and attractiveness of the women behind the bais in New Zealand. He was decidedly ngrainst iho barmaid, nnd in allowing such a thing New Zealand was behind Canada, therefore Now Zealand war. in greater need of prohibition than Cai.ad.T,; nnd. Ihctpfore, ho wished *be executive God-speed in its woik. The swakpr said ha had been impressed by the Crown Ministers of Now Zeal.*U'l, and particularly by the Hon. Mr. IlallJones. (Applauss.) It was decided by tho gathering to rpml a sympathetic mOßßagc to the Art- ■ in r '-"Premier, with an expiession of hope I that, he would soon recover his health. | Mr. Knowlton, who wps associatp-J with Mr. Race aL tho Exhibition, was also a guest at the luncheon.