PROHIBITION DENOUNCED

Evening Star, Issue 12674, 30 November 1905, Page 7

PROHIBITION DENOUNCED

BLENHEIM, November 50. Much public interest was taken in a lecture delivered here last night by the Rev. Father iJervajeau on 'Prohibition.' The hall was crowded, and among those present was tht: Rov. Mr Faarclough, of Wellington, who speaks tonight in reply to Father Servajoau's view 6. ihe lecturer said that his uddre--s was prompted by a letter which he had received from the New Zealand Alliance asking him to preach a special temperance sermon in view of tho coining elections. He rc-ented the letter as an interference, as he never any opportunity of urging Ids congregation to temperance. This incident bad led to correspondence in the Pros, and to his appearam e on the public platform. The adure-a strongly disapproved of the principle of Prohibition and No-liconse, but condemned tho present open-bar system and the eyiLof the '"shouting " custom. Ho suggested the Continental cafe system, wliich, from experience, he could say did not encourage excessive drinking. Speaking of Ashburton, he said he had just wired to Father O'Donnell, parish priest tliere, asking him if Prohibition was really a benefit, and the reply was " No; taking all things into consideration Prohibition iii not -a benefit." The speaker got an excellent hearing.