AGAINST PROHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14855, 5 December 1911, Page 8

AGAINST PROHIBITION.

AN ARCHBISHOP'S LETTER.

.WINE FOR THE . SACRAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Palkerston North, Monday. At St. Patrick's Church yesterday Father Costello read a circular letter from Archbishop llcdwcod. in reference to a statement made by. the Rev. R. B. S. Hammond, of Sydney, who is touring the country for the No-License League;

The letter contained tho following :— "The leaders of the no-license party have publicly declared that if national prohibition is carried, one of the results will be that, after about 10 years, no wine, even for medicinal or sacramental purposes, will be allowed into the Dominion. As this would render the celebration of Mass impossible, we feel obliged to warn our people against prohibition, and to warn them not- to vote for it."

' THE ALLIANCE IN \REPLY.

WHAT THE LAW PROVIDES. [IST TELEGRAPH. — ASSOCIATION.] •» - Wellington, Monday. . A special meeting of tho New' Zealand Alliance, executive was held this morning, when the following resolution was -unanimously adopted:—"That this executive has With deep regret a circular letter from' Archbishop Redwood advising Roman Catholics' to vote against national prohibition, on the grounds that possibly tho repeal of the clause allowing alcoholic wine for, sacramental purposes may follow the success of ,national prohibition. Wo notice .with pleasure that tho said declaration does not touch the issue of no-license, as no question of the need for any exemption for sacramental or other purposes can arise under that issue. The executive desires it to be. understood that the party ' has , riot only not. entertained any such' ' idea, but.' also baa. on the other hand given substantial evidence to tho contrary. The executive has taken a strong line in safeguarding religious. convictions. - " When a draft of tho . famous compact, was presented to the alliance, it did not contain a provision covering the sacramental question. The New Zealand. Alliance absolutely refused to proceed unless . the proviso were inserted, and Sir Joseph Ward declared that unless the New Zealand Alliance's demand were acquiesced in he would not proceed with the Bill. . The definite exemption of sacramental wine from the operation of national prohibition was then inserted. The law expressly provides that if national prohibition is carried (section 21, clause 2), ' nothing in this section shall, extend or apply to the importation, manufacture, or sale (in accordance with regulations made by the Governor-in-Council in that behalf) of intoxicating liquor for medicinal, scientific, sacramental, or industrial purposes exclusively.' The Archbishop's dictum is an inference, from the following statement, attributed to the Rev. R. B. S. Hammond : 'When we carry prohibition, a few years after we will have the majority . of tho people educated to the extent .that doctors will throw alcohol out for medicinal purposes. The Churches will not use it for sacramental purposes (as indeed my own church does not now), and it will not bo necessary for industrial purposes.' Mr. Hammond appears personally to contemplate a, revision by the medical profession, by the, Church, and by the manufacturing interest of their present, use of alcohol. Such a. revision voluntarily made by tho interested parties themselves is the very opposite of a tyrannical invasion of the rights of conscience. The executive is satisfied that it speaks for tho whole of the no-license party - when it declares that that party would never carry the principle of • prohibition to such lengths as would interfere with the rights of the conscience of our Roman Catholic fellow citizens or of any other religious' body, but would on the contrary oppose anV'mich extension as a violation of the principles of religious liberty." " MISINFORMED." . MR, HAMMOND IN V REPLY. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Ddnedin, Monday. With reference to Archbishop Redwood's circular, the Rev. R. 'B. S. Hammond despatched tho following telegram to the Archbishop this morning:—"Respectfully, draw your attention to the fact that' Your Grace has been misinformed.', I never said, nor have any prohibition leaders said, nor will we ever say, one word against' the very right and proper exemption of tho clause dealing with wine for sacramental purposes. I hope Your Grace, will take immediate steps to correct the statement in your circular." ' " ' " '