THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11898, 23 May 1899, Page 5

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

THE ATTITUDE OF BISHOP JULIUS. [f kOM Ota .OoERESPONDEOT.i t • WELLINGTON, May 22. Tibs Wellington prohibitionists ihold an open-air meeting on Saturday nighty tiio principal speakers being the Rev F. W. Isitt, the Rev J. Dawson, and Mr A. K. Atkinson. The audience was somewiisLt lifceiy bat good humoured. During the course of his remarks Mr Isitt referred to th 6 recent " conversion" of Bishop Julius (iof Ghtostchnrch) to the "no license " party. Ihia-oßucing the subject* Mr Isitt said that he asked the Bishop in 1893 when he was going; to join the prohibitionists, and the answer he got was "Never .' I believe in good beer and light wine." Here a voice"" from tile crowd cried out, "Good enough. He's a wise Ifiiam" Quick came the retort, " Yolt wait a minute, toll I've told you the stofjf complete. You evidently haven't heard of tie new departure of the Bishop." Mr Isitt then' went on to tell how, prior to the local option.-poll'.of 1893, Bishop Julius, in conjunction With the Rev Dr Ermslie (the veteran Presbyterian clergyman of ChristcKurcu) and others, advocated that a vote should be given for reduction onlyi Considerable friction arose between the prohibitionists and the Bishop on this account, and no indication waa given of any change of front on the Bishop's part -until a few weeks ago, when it began to be whispered that he would declare for no license. On May 3.the Bishop met his clergy specially to consider the liquor question, and then, in the most pronounced manner, declared that the publicans had forfeited all claims to sympathy by theii shameless law-breaking. *iThey had refused to take warning by the reduction vote taken in 1893, and though-he did not hold with the roll programme of the Prohibition Party » he had determined to cast his vote and use his influence to promote the carrying of no license. He strongly advised his clergy to take the same course, and though a number- took exception to his" position a large proportion, especially of the younger men, said Mr Isitt, were wholly in sympathy with him. Here the voice froni the crowd interjected, "He's a fool to change Ha mind." Mr Isitt: " You're wrong, friend. It, is the wise man who changes his mind, tie fool never." (Laughter and . cries oi "That's one against you, Solqman.") Mr Isitt claimed that the Bishop's position was perfectly consistent. He was not a pre* hibitiottist, did not want (as the prohibitionists did) all forms of license to be suV mitted to the popular vote, nor that a coLo* nial as well as a local option vote should be taken. He only wanted to vote out the drinking bar (which attitude was not enough for the prohibitionists), but he was prepared to vote out both the drinking bars and the wholesale licenses if he could not kill the one without destroying the other. Mr Isitt also said that the Bishop, on account of his

.recent statement, had been attacked in ihe papers as ■ fiercely as though he had been one of the most rabid and fanatical of prohibitionists, and the Christchurch " Press '* had editorially expressed its surppise.at " finding an anarchist in the tanks of the'Bishops."

[Per . Press Association. ] ■ ' AUCKLAND, May 22. Ari :: Open-air prohibition meeting was held under the auspices of the Auckland Prohibition Leagues. Among other subjects discussed were the action of Bishop Julius 'in recommending the clergy to vote and also to urge their people to vote for no Kcense,"' the use of the nospital, the unwillingness of public men to Seal withprohibition, and the decisions on licensing court matters given durmg the £st two months by: Mr ;H. S. Wardel, S* -At-the. close, of. the the lollop carried without dis-:ierkv3«-That HKe recent of the Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr Wardell, evifeeS. bia/ towards-the, hquor traffic, and; are inimical to.the best interests of the W-abiding citizens, of Auckland, as well as being very discouraging to the pokem their efforts to honestly administer the licensing laws, of the /country; that the Chairman of the Prohibition League forward the newspaper ex tracts, referred to together with this resolution, to the Right Honß J- Seddon, the Premier, requesting. Mm-to institute an inquiry into the matter.' . • • _._ _ v At the close of the address of Mr 1. &■ Taylor; M.H.R., at Onehnnga, on prohibitionin Clutha, the Rev S. Lawry moved '-i**Tbat,having heard the testimony from Cfeha,'this meeting is of opinion that the t»St interests of Manukau will be served by carrying 'no license' at the next election. Tft» Vantiori was carried by acclamation.