LICENSING POLL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 June 1927, Page 3

LICENSING POLL.

CASE FOR PROHIBITION. W.C.T.U. DELEGATES WELCOMED The W.C.T.U. Convention was continued ilast night-, Mrs. J. Ex-lev presiding over a large attendance. including Mr. 11. L. DiLcicie, M.P., tlie Mayen and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs E-. A. Paeey) and other prominent citizens. Prior to the oqinine-nciejneiiit of the proceedings, ALesdaunes T. K. 'Taylor, b. Peryman and A. IT. Duxfield were presented with k«rai tributes of the esteem in which they were held. During tlie evening an enjoyable musical programme was submitted, the various artists receiving well earned applause. llis Worship the Mayor, in a briespeech expressed liiss pleasure in welcoming the various delegates to- Hawera and hoped that their efforts would result in great credit to- themselves and to the benefit' of tlie- community on general. Fie was pleased to welcome anyone who came- here to help others. Anyone coaming for hits own gain was nob, in the opinion of the speaker, entitled to a civic reception. Reference to the work of the late Mr T. E-. Taylor was made by His Worship, who sale that the decea-s-ed gentile-miam was taken when he was just beginning to lx understood by the people. The Licensing Reform Commiititee was referred toby the speaker as a nondescript body which met anO passed re-solutions. It was- significant that the resolutions were paused by nobody in particular. In the Cause of resolutions passed ’by the New Zealand Alliance the mo-v.ei and seconder were usually named. The committee referred to sty-led itself a? something between flic two—-they wore not extremists —hut how anyone whoso light to remove the thing, which db so much damage, from the community could be called an “extremist” tlie speaker said lie did not know. Example was- better than precept, continued lTis Worship, and -said that many who- struck out the top l-ine should really “put in the- peg” and help with the work. It was no use preaching prohibition and still having a drink. Those people- should set an example t< others. Mr. Dickie. M.P., also welcomed the delegates ami said he wa-s glad to welcome- members of an association wili-ici did such work as the W.C.T.U. accom plished. He had not realised thiaf the W.C.T.U. aim© had any political (significance until lie was presented with a petition signed by 1100. He had always been a two issue man, and was in favour of the Bible -reading in school? and thought that such a prlaoiti.ee would result iu great benefit to- the children He would not speak at -length, as he had to join some old war comrades. However, lie hoped that the delibera tioms wo-uild -result in much good to the community. Afr. L. A. Bone, on behalf of the Management Committee of the Presbyterian Church, -addressed a few words of welcome to the delegates, and -referred to the great work done by the W.C.T.U. right round the world.

DOMINION PRESIDENT. Mr.s Taylor thauicecl -those present- fo-. the kind welcome extended her -a.nt. then addressed a few words- to- -tth-c younger -boys present, who-in she u-rget. to. -s-.-gu the pledge and to -remembe, tliia-t- no matter what anyone ever to-hl them, alcohol was never of any use to them. It did them harm and. it they wished to ..succeed iu after fife they must avoid it. In -speaking to the adults, Airs Taylor described a visit to a sports meeting -’at Ohi’iiistbahureli, where she Laid been attracted by the- physical per-iec-tiow of the young people of both i«exe*s. She wondered why iit was that all of the young men and woman did not fulfil the promise- of growing i-nt-a perfect specimens of humanity. There were only two things she could think of—impurity and -intemperance. The temptations of t-li-e world lay in wait for them -and it was the d-uty of adults to see that those temptations were removed- as ksoQ-u -as po-sisilb-le. .Between the polls there were over 1000 men under 25 yearn of age who were convicted of drunkenness. Again each year there wa-s a sum of £‘8,500,000 paid away annually for nothing but to -swell lire dividends of -the brewers. This money could -be well expended in clothing the children whose parents were now -out of employment. Hero the speaker quoted extracts I'nom the work of Evangeline Booth, llenid.nl (lie Salvation Army in America, in which it was -said that t-he coiid,itioii.s. had -improved wonderfully under -prohibition. Other prohibition authorities were quoted to -shew that crime, etc., had been, reduced greatly. The eon,sumption of milk hail -increased wonderfully ami this -benefited live children considerably 'and made it more necessary that New Zealand .should obtain .such- benefits.

THE WO-MEIX'R PAST. Mr. T. ,f. Tior,roil, on behalf of the Met-hodisit (Ihv.rcli, extended a. cordial reception to the visitors, whom he said were an -asset let Haw-era. The -speaker then told the children a. -striking example of a mii-n in Einglm-iid who gave up a. fortune (derived from a. brewery) to work in the cause of prnhi'hi'tion. The W.-C.T.i:. was an orga-nis-ation of woiiineu, and as i-t grew and women took a larger part in the affair? of the world it would mean geue-rml improvement. The. •speaker sui-id that he iho-ughf if women hud had more to iMa-y in the ma tte-''. the war would never have -occurred Mrs. Pervman, in a vigorous speech, dealt with the min caused -by -strong

drink, as it concerned dhiilid/ren. Alcohol wa.s the enemy qf life, and impaired the very iseed qf life. If ia> young couple married oaul only one dMirak moderately j,t would not 'bo until the fourth generation that the traces of alcohol would disappear. The trade was deliberately planning the downfall of the youth of tl,o country. Several decide nUs iu which, pro-lidfoitiou ofliciuhs in Aaneiriaa had been killed in enforcing tlie llatw were related by the speaker who, in conclusion, iasked those who voted for the trade would they feel proud of their vote when they stood «>t the Great White Throne ? Mr. tV. -Page, on behalf of the Church of Christ, briefly addressed the assembly and also congratulated the W.O.T.U. on the great work being done. Mr. F. W. Horner, the Hlatwera representatiive of the New Zealand Alliance and of the Hawera Baptist Church, expressed the pleasure it gave him to welcome to delegates to Hawera. He congratulated the ladies on the success of their efforts and exhorted them to continue .their efforts in view of the coming fight next year. The following contributed to. the musical programme: Messrs L. A. Tay lor, H. H. Finer. J. Fraser, -Mesdames TDarkness, C. Robb, L. Curtis, Miss M M. Johnstone and Master and Alisa Fox. ____ __