AGAINST LIQUOR

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 116, 13 November 1919, Page 7

AGAINST LIQUOR

MORE PROHIBITION MEETINGS

The platform campaign in favour of National prohibition was continued last night, when Mrs. A. R. Atkinson and Captain W. H, Hawkins addressed a meeting in St. John's Schoolroom. Mr. Gr. A. Troup presided, and the audience was not a large one. Mrs. Atkinson asserted that the liquor traffic had very efficiently earned its work of impoverishing and degrading "the meaner sort." That, she said, was the reason for licensing the liquor traffic —to debase and keep poor "the lower orders." Referring to a recent list of divorce cases the speaker asserted that nearly every case was due to drink. As a member of the Wellington Society for the Protection of Women and Children, she s stated that the society never found a case of deliberate, wilful cruelty to children which had not drink at the bot- . torn of it. It was important to note that in December prohibition could be procured for nothing. The trade had no | right to compensation when the bars were closed. Captain Hawkins said he did not be: lieve that there was one man or woman in the liquor trade itself, whether engaged in selling, manufacturing or importing liquor, who believed that it was a good thing for the country (Applause.) He generally sorted out into four classes those who voted for Continuance—(l) those who drank because their fathers, grandfathers, and greatgrandfathers, before them drank; (2) the vested interest class, the men and women who had got their money sunk in brewery shares and hotel property ; (3) the people whom he called 'Hhe appetite class," I the men, and the women too, unfortunately, who liked "booze," and who must have it and would have it so long as it was here ; and (4) selfish, indifferent class, the men and the women so self-centred and so busy in acquiring property and making, money that they went up and down the streets aiid did not see what "this damnable traffic" was doing. He believed that the Prohibition propaganda was waking up classes one and four, and that many of them would vote Prohibition this time ; and he believed, also, that many of class three, "tho appetite class," would also vote .on their side.' (Applause.) They could not keep away from ! tho drink, but they would be very glad if the drink were kept away from them. ,(App!uuse.) . -. The speakers were, accorded a vote of thanks. Mr D. S. Smith addressed & meeting at Johnsonville Hall. Several meetings have been arranged for to-night. They are as follow :— Mr. E. J Orange at Sydney-street • Schoolroom ; Mr. W. D. Hunt at Century Hall, Ivent-terrace; Rev. S. Beckingham at Kelburn Presbyterian Church': Mrs. Kineton Parkes, with Mrs. J. P. Luke in the chair, at the Concert Chamber, Town Hall.