"THE FIRST SHOT"

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 5, 6 July 1922, Page 8

"THE FIRST SHOT"

A PROHIBITION RALLY

BIG MEETING IN THE TOWN HALL

MORE ABOUT AMERICA.

-. Prohibitionists, and those who were anxious to hear what the Prohibitionists had to. say, rallied at the Town Hall last night, when the New Zealand Alliance fired "the first shot" in the .campaign preparatory to .the National Licensing poll which will be taien towards the end of the year. There were about 1500 people'present, and for half'an-hour they amused themselves by singing, in community style, a' number of Prohibition campaign songs. The Mayor (Mr. B. A. Wright, M:P.), presided, and with him on the platform were Mr. L. M. Isitt, M.P., Mr. A. E. Atkinson, president of the New Zealand Alliance, tlie Rev. R. B. S. Hammond, president of the N.S.W. Alliance, and a large number of membors of Parliament and prominent Prohibitionists. from all over New Zealand.' . .■. .., :•■.' ,

....Mr.-..Wright said, that the great issue which was at stake this year could be settled by the people in a . democratic way. The battle which was pending would be a bloodless one, and.tho people had been given the utmost liberty in determining the questions which would be put to. them in December. He hoped that the party in a minority when the results of the poll were announced would .loyally accept the decision: of the people. (Applause.) ..■•.'■' ; . '

Mr. L. M. Isitt,-whp< was the .first of the Alliance speakers, received a great reception. - He stated that after, a struggle, extending over half a century, they were again getting right into the battle. Why'were the Prohibitionists again putting their hands into their "own pockets and raising thousands of pounds to counteract the \ lying campaign of the, liquor .traffic?-.'. Those in the liquor trade and members of the Moderate League said they were fanatics, others said they were wowsere, and the newspapers—well, he was sorry for the editors, who had to write according to orders. Why are.we here,-he repeated. "We are here," he replied, "bcause we know that our cause is absolutely right.". There were no complex matters about the'liquor traffic. There was only one side, and that was the side which the Prohibifionists took. Nothing but piffle was served up to try and convince people that they needed strong drink. If the liquor traffic had anything decent to say: would it stoop to such advertisements as those yfWah' appeared from time to time? -.',-ItVwiiß impossible now to arrange a debate between a prominent Liquor advocate and a prominent Prohibitionist^ Mr:.'lsitt''asserted'that-the use of strong drink could never be regulated; the drug would always seek out the weak members of society!" Tlie liquor traffic was 'still! the ■-', dirtiest, vilest, and most disreputable traffic, ( in. the. world." They were on logical and righteous ground when they said that the only way to stop the evils arising out of v liquor was to banish liquor altogether, and not control it. ' "If |he traffic, through your indifference, or through your vote, is given another lease of life, you will bring about just the same record of misery and crime as that which exists to-day," said Mr. Isiit. '' But don't be content with a vote | against .-.drink.; Put your, whole ■ heart and 'energy into .the - fight,' and we will win through." (Applause.)

The Rev. Mr. Hammond was also loudly applauded. He is a powerful; eloquent speaker, and he aroused considerable enthusiasm. "Again and again," he said, "the Dominion-had just missed the wonderful possibilities, which would follow the banishment ■of liquor. He recited most interestingly, the results of a visit, to Seattle, which, he said, had benefited so greatly from the enforcement of Prohibition. ■ The Mayor of Seattle -was once an ardent advocate of liquor, but, he told Mr. Hammond, "when I found that Prohibition emptied our gaols, filled out banks to overflowing, and gave our boys and girls a better' chance, I became an ardent, advocate of Prohibition." The workers at the' great shipbuilding yards drove their, own automobiles. They put their money into benzine instead of ink "booze" (applause), and were much Better for it. They said that Prohibition solved the State's housing'problem. Only the men in Washington State voted, : and they carried Prohibition by a majority of 18,000. After two years' trial another yote was taken and the majority then was 305,000. That was an unanswerable argument ithat Prohibition worked ' for the happiness of the people and to. the glory of God. Mr. Hammond then took his audience to Colorado—to Denver. He marvelled at the generosity1"" and public spiritednesg of the people. When Prohibition was carried 600 saloons were dosed, but tiiere was no unemployment problem.' .The saloons were soon re-occu-pied when they were converted into shops and restaurants, antt they employed more ;■',. men- .then than before. The State of Colorado went dry by a majority of a few votes under 12,000. Two years later the majority on the same issue was 85,000. Buch was the:converting possibility of Prohibition. A big business man in Detroit >vas asked his opinion of Prohibition,' and he replied: "Go back to Australia and' teH your people that when they, carry Prohibition by^-arid'-bye they will be able to buy and buy." Mr..Henry. Ford was never an. ardent advocate of Prohibition until he felt the benefits. . In the bad old days 2500 employees were absent every Slonday morning. After Prohibition was carried the number of absentees dropped to 400. Mr. Ford, pioneer of high wages, immediately increased the wages of every employee by one dollar a day. I When an editor was asked if he would say something about Prohibition, he showed Mr. Hammond a special number, 'across the top of which there appeared in black letters: "I did my damnest to defeat Prohibition, and it shows that I was the davndest of fools." .The paper th»n recounted the benefits of the prohibition—what it had5 m«ant to Detroit.- The people of New .-Zealand could have prohibition for the . asking- iF they would only work and pay during the next few months. He pleaded with the people that they should rise to a great and splendid endeavour, and make. this year the most notable in. the history of New Zealand. "Bend your- energies this- year, and you will have done that which makes life worth living-," were his" concluding- remarks. . - Special cards were distributed at the conclusion of the meeting, and it is understood that substantial additions to the campaign fund were promised.