THE DRINK BILL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 137, 9 December 1908, Page 11

THE DRINK BILL.

1 COMMENT ON ITS INCREASE. "SHEER DEVILMENT" AND NO LICENSE. £BI TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, Bth December. The subject of tho recent local option poll came before the Auckland Presbytery to-night, when the Rev. A. Millar moved — "That the Presbytery rejoices in the substantial advance in temperance sentiment indicated by the local option poll. We congratulate the electors of Eden and Ohinemuri on carrying ho-lioenso and the Grey Lynn peoplo on the splendid majority obtained for non-restoration. Wo also note with, satisfaction the fact that reduction has been carried in Auckland city and adjacent electorates, and that in each case so large a vote has been cast for nolicense. Wo accept all these as evidence that the incoming tide is in favour of 1 temperance reform, and will bo encouraged thereby to renewed and increased -effort, bo that, at no distant dale, a complete victory may be gained over the drink traffic with all its attendant evils." Mr. L. G. Bagnall drew attention to the fact that although tho no-license vote had increased by 22 per cent, tho drink hill had increased 'by 32 per cent. That, he thought,; appeared to indicate that while tho no-license fdeling was increasing tho temperance feeling was not. To his mind this was a very serious phase of the question. Again, he understood that in Ohinemuri it was not a, strong feeling for nolicense that gained the day, but a concerted effort by the men of Waihi io protest against the_ action of the publicans in refusing to give them cheaper beer. Mr. Millar said tho Presbytery knew full well that what Mr. Bagnall said was correct. It was to be deplored the people had beon drinking more because they had moro to spend. The Rev. I. Bertram referred to the fact that a large number of no-licenso votes had been cast by moderato drinkers. The Rev. J. L. Pattullo said Mr. Bagnall was correct in what he said regarding Waihi. There were comparatively few teetotallers in Waihi. Ho believed that prohibition would not have been carried had it not been for the refusal to reduce the price of beor. "If I might use tho word," said Mr. Pattullo, "it was sheer 1 devilment on the part of the miners." Tho motion was carried.