Prohibition Meeting.

Hastings Standard, Issue 183, 28 November 1896, Page 2

Prohibition Meeting.

At St. Matthews Hall last night there was a meeting of those interested in the Prohibition movement for the purpose of concerted action at .the coming election. Mr R. J. Roberts occupied the chair. During the evening several hymns I were well rendered by the Juvenile Templars under the coductorship of Mr Kingswell. The stage was decorated with a large scroll, a reproduction of the Licensing ballot paper, instructing the electors how to vote from a prohibition standpoint. The Rev. Mr Miller delivered a powerful and eloquent address in which lie explained the reasons the Prohibition party demanded the total abolition of the liquor traffic. The war against drink which was commenced by a few earnest men in Auckland was laughed at, but it had outgrown ridicule, and to-day Prohibition was within the region of practical politics > !.>/ instanced how toe Roman and 1. ■. \-;i Churches, which were supposed :.c be in the rear of this movement, spoken emphatically against liquor saloons. He exhorted his audit nee as Christians, parents, and citizenvote for Prohibition. The Rev. Mr. Hobbs asked permission to make an explanation. Though the Diocesan Synod declared against the liquor trade in general terms it was not intended to coerce individual electors in registering their votes at the coming elections. The Rev. Mr Morrison,the course of his remarks, said the Saviour, were he here, would strike out the top line in his voting paper and the devil would strike out the two bottom lines. With regard to the cry of Liberty, one man's Liberty ended where another's commenced. Rev. Dr Hosking claimed that many drunkards and moderate drinkers would vote for prohibition on the 4th. Moderate drinkers should remember the evil drink does in the community, and sacrifice themselves for the general good by voting for prohibiten. He saw an advertisement " Prohibition in lowa " in this evening's Standard which he would reply to if the editor would allow him. Mr Roberts said the Prohibition movement was purely democratic. It would only be wanted on the imperative demand of the people, an 1 though it might not be wanted for some time they could and would wait for the awakening of the people. Rev. Dr. Hosking proposed and Rev. Miller seconded the following which was declared carried :—" That the liquor traffic is opposed to the interests of society and pledges itself to strike out the the top line on the Licensing Voting paper on polling day."