THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9542, 20 June 1911, Page 6

THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

MRS. BARTON'S ADDRESS. Ex-Councillor Mrs Barton, under the auspices of the local W.C.T.U., addressed a very !:;i'«;o unci cuthusias.it; meeting in the ..imiicipal Hall hhZ evening. The 'Mayor presided, aid briefly introduced the .speaker. Mi's Barton, who ir; posseted of an inexhaustible fund of broad humour, soon had the, audience with her, and her nddrees was ono of the most entertaining yet delivered in Palmerston. Sonic comparisons made between New Zealand and (Scotland gave her the text for fiome remarks on the- increasing sobrietv of her fellow-countrymen. Scotland, she said, was not n land of whisky drinkers, The young Scot was ./rowing up a true man, firm ant] steady, a»d < m w,w was rf,fld .V tfl "S"* the o'rogrese of drink. Since the Bud,,pt nd increased the duty on whisky fl t Drink Bill in Scotland had fallen below New Zealand's average, and

great strides were being made in tern-1 prance there. Mrs Barton envied the women of New Zealand their vote, and pointed to the splendid opportunity New Zealand had with its universal franchise, and she hoped that the men and women of Palmorston' would unite their efforts and fight -tho enemy of this town, country and Empire, which (die declared to be the curse of the nation, the ruin of homes, and the degradation of men, women and children alike. Mrs Barton, who, assisted in the recent light in New South "Wales, explained that the trade had not given her fair play in many places where she had been, but she heeded them not, and only hoped that all sensible people would do the same. Dealing with the question of compensation Mrs Barton said the license of an hotel did not belong to the hotelkeepcr; it_ belonged to the people. The publican only held it for one year. Therefore she urged the people to keep their licenses and close the traffic throughout the country. She did not know of one business or trade that would not benefit by no-license, and quoted many apt examples to prove her statement. At nresonfc the drink bill in Now Zealand was greater than in, many other countries, and she expressed her surprise at the number of women in the gaols through this cause. On a visit last week to a State home for children in New Zealand she was told that about 90 per cent of the cases that came under their notice were caused through drink. In conclusion, Mrs .Barton referred to the women's crusade movement running in conjunction with the "W.C.T.U., and the good work it was accomplishing. Sho wished; it every success throughout the Domin- ; ion.' Women were flocking to its ban- ' nor f nd were fighting with united force to wipe l out tho terror and plague, the , result of the drink.

Tim lecturo was much enjoyed by all wesent. Mrs Barton has a popular style, and her fund of witticisms and anecdotes completely captured the audience. Mrs H. Mowlem expressed her appreciation of Mrs Barton's lecture, adding a few remark's about the crusade movement. She moved a vote of thanks to the sneaker, which was seconded by Mrs F. McDonald, and carried unanimously by acclamation. A welcome feature of the evening was the singing of Miw Nielsen, who rendered solos with, harp accompaniment, all being greatly, appreciated by the audience.