NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10314, 5 April 1894, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

[Pbk Press Association.! WELLINGTON,- April 4. The annual conference of the New Zealand Alliance opened to-day, Mr Withy, of Auckland, in the chair. It was decided to place on record the Alliance’s ; sense of loss by Sir W. Pos’a death. The Secretary’s report showed the year to have been one of exceptional interest, as evidenced by the rapid increase of public opinion. The agents of the Alliance worked unceasingly, organising and lecturing in every part of the colony, whereby workers ; had been cheered and public opinion j strengthened. The Rev L. M. Isitt’a mission, and the efforts of Mr Melville, H.L.A., of New South Wales, had also i been successful to a very great degree. 1 The direct veto convention held hero last j July was characterised as the most reprei sentativo gathering of temperance workers ' ever held in New Zealand. The convention ' had declared the nature of its attitude in politics. Late events had witnessed the results of the efforts that were made in the ‘ matter of drink consumption, and the conviction wss expressed that things were shaping for the better, whilst the difference between New Zealanders born and thoso from other lands was yearly becoming accentuated. After reviewing the progress of the temperance movement throughout the world, the report concluded j that the events of the year pointed to the ! cheering fact that the people were becoming more than ever alive to the importance of temperance reform. Church and State had propounded methods showing at least that serious thought bad been awakened. A better understanding of this grave subject was arising, and the right remedy had a growing number of supporters, giving good hopes that the longed-for < measure must in a very ehorfc time find ft | tilm upon tbff Ptatute book,