N.Z. ALLIANCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 April 1925, Page 4

N.Z. ALLIANCE.

TARANAKI AREA CONVENTION

(Contributed.)

From all parts of Taranaki close bn 10,7 delegates were present at a convention held yesterday in the l’resoyter.ian schoolroom, by the Taranaki area of the New Zealand Alliance.

The proceedings were opened by the area president, Mr. C. E. .Bellringer, of New Plymouth, who urged the necessity for increased activity in the coming months, as this year the great opportunity would come and the light would be fought against the liquor traffic. It could be won by the help and of the prohibition sympathisers with the will to work Apologies were received from Rev. R. 13. Goswell (Waitara), Rev. Chambers (Opunake),, Rev., W. \\ . Avery (ElthamJ. Rev. Roberts (Manaia), Mrs. J. McAllister (Stratford), ..and Rev. Goring (Hawera). . Helpful and encouraging messages were read from the Rev, I<. E. Harry, president of . the Wellington urea ; Rev. F. W. Robertson, president of the Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay area; Mr. H. E. Pacey, of Palmerston North, president of: the Mannwatu area ; and Mr. Groper, of South Canterbury. Mr. Esmonds, the Dominion organiser, spoke on campaign p ans and programme. The methods to be adopted for the campaign were clearly put for ward. The information and advice given, and the news of the advance made in connection with the .organisation 'of. the forces were most encouraging to his hearers. Mr. Edmond stressed the • need toi following 4 Tip The- young people’s work arid concentrating on training the young mind towards prohibition. Mr. L. A. Bone addressed the convention on finance, and urged that tjk. spirit of giving be more pronounced ’amongst the prohibition sympathisers. There was no reform on earth that could give more assistance to-men anu women to live upright and decent lives than prohibition, he declared. Polling day was the next subject as the' agenda paper, and this matter was ably dealt with by Miss D. ,E. Bates, of Hawera, who mentioned the necessity for trained scrutineers on polling day. The Rev. R. E. Evans dealt with the question of rolls in a brief and concise manner. He suggested that all workers should obtain a copy of the roll as soon as possible, arid pointed out that to know the roll thoroughly would be a valuable help to the organ isation.

The most important subject of “Publicity” was dealt with bv Mr.. H. Cocker, of New Plymouth, and the speaker urged the necessity of obtaining the very best services available to conduct the publicity section of the work.

Mr. F. C. Spratt, of Hawera, spoke briefly on “Political Questions.” He said that there were three issues where there should be only two, and this was a matter that the Alliance should persevere with. The prohibitionist was out for clean government, and the party must be seized with the absolute importance of the political aspect of this question. Mr. Spratt urged the necessity of seeing that all men elected to Parliament should be prohibitionists.

A hearty welcome was extended to the Rev. Horace Lindsey, vicar of Inglewood, who has lately arrived from Canada.

A short discussion took place on the matters introduced in' the speeches which had been given, and the opinion was freely expressed that great good would be' the outcome of the convention. The election of officers for the forthcoming year resulted as under: President, Mr, E. Dixon (Hawera); vicepresident. Mr. Clements (Eltham); secretary, Mr. J. H. Thompson (Stratford) ; • treasurer, Mr. Foster (Stratford); area council, Miss M., Hunter (Waverley), Mr. Houston (Patea), Mr. Jkme and Mr. F. C. Spratt (Hawera). Mr. H. H. Fleming (Nonmanbyj, Mr. Smith (Manaia), Rev. A. H. Moore (Opunake), Hev. Orange and Mr. Had. don (Eltham), Hev. McKenzie and Mr, Marfell (Stratford), Mr. J. B. Bine (Toko), llev. Lindsey (Inglewood), Mr. Hughson (Rahotu), Mr. Griffin and Mr. Cocker (New Plymouth), Mr. A. G. "Fisher (v>t. Albans), Rev. I*. J. Cossum (Fitzroy), .Rev. Gosnell and Mr. Vaughan (Waitara), and Mr. Goss (Westown) ; delegates to Dominion conference, Mr, Spratt, Mr. Dixon, Hev. Orange, Air. Marfell, and Mr. Bellringer. ’ . Air. E. Dixon was welcomed to the president’s chair by acclamation, and in a forceful speech returned thanks •for the honour given him. Air. Bellringer was given a seat on the area-council, and appreciation was: expressed of his past services. Mr. AY. T. Johnson, of Hawera, introduced the subject of the .Sunday schools and Bands of Hope,: and Air. W. Stewart dealt with the Bible Class aspect of the question. Airs. AV. P. Avery dealt in an able manner with the work of women in*the prohibition campaign. Airs. A very is a forceful speaker, and drove home her points in a very convincing way. The thanks of the members of the convention are due to the ladies of the W.C.T.U. for so kindly providing afternoon tea at this- stage. The Rev. - Horace Lindsey, vicar of Inglewood, addressed the convention, taking as his subject Canadian and American experience of prohibition/ Air. Lindsey has recently arrived here with first-hand experience in Canada and America in connection with the prohibition movement, and his address was most instructive and a pleasure to listen to, and such facts as , the speaker gave in regard to the liquor trade, and the splendid results’ of prohibition where it was in force, were distinctly encouraging. The Rev. J. D, Smith, Atanaia, was the last speaker for the afternoon session, the subject being “Vote AA’inning and Alemb&'shi’b Campaign.’.’ Air. Smith outlined the method necessary to make the vote-winning campaign a huge success. The. evening session, which was presided over by' Air. L. A. Bone, took the form of a mass meeting of workers.

During the evening,a. most interesting lecture on prohibition at work was given bv Aliss Jessie Burls, of ATictoria, which was illustrated by lantern slides.

ALr. C. R.. Edmond, Dominion organiser, also spoke on “1925,, Our Great Opportunity.” A programme of musical items was also given.