A TEMPERANCE DINNER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12147, 18 December 1902, Page 6

A TEMPERANCE DINNER.

CELEBRATING LOCAL OPTION "■■<■; SUCCESSES. '

A dinner to celebrate the victories achieved at the recent; local option polls was held in St. James' 'Hall last night, the room being tastefully decorated with flags and bunting. After an excellent repast, which was enjoyed by a large company, a number of congratulatory speeches were delivered. The Rev. C. H. Garland occupied the chair, and among those who took an active part in the proceedings were Miss Balgarnie (an English lady, who has been making a tour of New Zealand), Messrs. Geo. Fowlds, M.H.R., Woolley, T. J. Bull (secretary of the Alliance), R. French, and T. Webb. Apologies for absence were announced by the secretary (Mr. W. Cooper) from Mr. E. G. B. Moss, M.H.R. (Ohinemuri), Mr. F. Mander, M.H.R. (Marsden), Mr. A. E. Harding, M.H.R. (Kaipara), Canon Haselden, the Rev. W. S. Potter, and Pastor Tcnney. . After a few remarks from the chair, and an address by Brigadier Glover, of the Salvation Army, Miss Florence Balgarnie spoke. She described the victories in the South for no-license as a splendid testimony to the power- of organisation. ' In Ashburton, Bruce, and other places the temperance party were magnificently organised. There would be no turning back in their movement. Although they had only won one district in the North Island for no-license, yet they had the satisfaction of realising that taking the colony as a whole they had made simply marvellous progress. Newtown would not be allowed to stand alone.

Mr. George Fowlds, M.H.R. for Grey Lynn, who was - received with enthusiastic /ipplause, said the result of the local option poll as a whole was such as to cause rejoicings among all lovers of temperance. They had no cause to feel dissatisfied with the progress that was being made in the Auckland district. Three years ago 1060 more persons cast their votes for continuance than, for nolicense. At the recent poll this majority was, reduced to' 800. ".- 1 These figures hardly represented the '; growth of the .temperance sentiment in and around- the city, seeing that the larger portion of the new electorate of Grey Lynn was included in.the city at the last election. A greater -1 number of nolicense votes came, from that locality- in proportion, to population, than from within the city itself. The same could be said of a part of Eden. If they were to, make \ a radius of four miles round Auckland, and analyse the voting there at the last poll as compared with three years ago, a great and satisfactory advance would be observed. , In the coming Parliament there would be men strong enough to; defeat any retrogressive legislation. (Applause.) . Mr. Woolley, of Accrington. England, complimented the New Zealand advocates of temperance upon their recent brilliant successes. •' '■ : ■ •■■'■■' : ;".: "; ■ .

Mr. T. J. Bull, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, pointed.out that the majority for license in 1896 as against no-license was 41,414; in 1899 they had the pleasure of seeing that majority reduced by 17,994 and now they had turned the tables completely, the no-license vote being in a majority of between 3000 and 4000 over the license vote. (Applause.) He was more pleased at the result than if no-license had been carried throughout the colony. For this reason: Until the law could be enforced everywhere, 1 and a fair trial given, it would not be'wise, or safe, or good for them to see such a sweeping victory. New Zealand was moving ahead, and ultimate victory was* certain, but it was better that it should come about gradually. (Applause.) ' Messrs. R. French, T. Webb, and W. Spedding also spoke. -v During the evening a programme of vocal and instrumental music was carried out, the following artistes contributing The Misses Thorpe, Smith, Woodman. Peak, and Muldoon, and Mr. James. The National Anthem brought the proceedings to a conclusion. ■' . ■■. I ■■ ■■