PROHIBITION MEETINGS

Evening Star, Issue 15477, 27 April 1914, Page 6

PROHIBITION MEETINGS

"" A large crowd gathered in the Octagon on Saturday evening, when an open-air meeting, the first of the 1914 campaign, was held. The first speaker, Mr Duncombe, said he represented the Young Men's National Prohibition Guild, recently formed. They had recognised that to carry on the fight successfully it was not fair'to leave all to the older men, and the young men had banded themselves together to conduct meetings and undertake the several branches of work in connection with the coming campaign, and invited all young men interested to come each Tuesday evening to their meetings. This speaker made a strong appeal to all to do their best this year to rid the country of the drink traffic, which was blighting the young manhood of our country. The Rev. J. Dawson, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, went into matters connected with our No-licehse areas, and in reply to interjections said that so far as MasteTton was concerned there were no empty shops that he knew off. He had seen great improvements in the town, and shops and houses were hard to get. As regards Invercargill, drinking had decreased to 9 gallons per head against 69 in License areas. SUNDAY'S METING. The Octagon Hall meeting at 8 p.m. was well attended, when Mr A. S. Adams occupied the chair. He spoke upon the drink bill, and quoted figures in regard to No-license areas, proving a small consumption against License areas. , The Rev. J. Dawson, in a spirited, address, spoke on the moral aspect of the question, citing many cases of people who had been dragged down by excessive drinking. The next speaker, Rev. R. S. Gray, spoke upon the effect of Prohibition in other countries, and made a strong appeal for all to do their utmost to settle the drink question by voting for Prohibition at next poll.