ANTI-LIQUOR CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 8

ANTI-LIQUOR CAMPAIGN.

PRESBYTERIAN PROGRAMME. [by ' telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.] Christchorch, Friday. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand resumed at St; Paul's Church' yesterday morning, the moderator (Rev. W. McAra) presiding. ..The report of the Temperance Committee, submitted by the Rev.' A. Miller (Edendale, Auckland), stated that it was somewhat discouraging that, notwithstanding all the efforts in the way of temperance reform; the drink bill should show an upward tendency. The report dealt with the, coming campaign, and the Church was urged to adhere to her policy and stand strongly and solidly for local no-licenso and for national prohibition. Mr. Miller moved the adoption of the report with the following deliverance :— "We thank the Hon. W. F. Massey and the Hon. J. Duthie, M.L.C., for their services in - presenting- our petitions to Parliament. ; We recommend ministers and sessions to promote pledge-signing among young and old, and that a special effort of this kind be made on the fourth Sunday of September, and appoint the second Sunday of November as Temperance Sunday. We resolve also to petition Parliament that the matter of reducing the necessary majority from 60 per cent, 1.0 55 per- cent, of valid votes recorded be submitted to Parliament separately for the local and for the national issue. We

enjoin Presbyterians to do what they can to assist in the campaign against the liquor _ traffic within their bounds, and authorise the committee to issue a pastoral letter to bo signed by the moderator and 'read from all pulpits of our Church on'a convenient Sunday before the poll is taken; also to issue a manifesto for distribution among our people, and to take jwsfc, {otUm.ii dips, as, way vi<a& to *» <«\?* for furthering the interests of local nolicense and of national prohibition." . Tho Rev. D. D. Scott (Onehunga) seconded the motion. The Rev. Jas. Milne {Thames) moved as an amendment: "That one of the clauses of deliverance should be altered to read, 'In view of tho approaching licensing poll of 1914, we urge our people to support in every suitable way national prohibition, to clear off the present licensing system, with a view to the introduction of State control of the liquor traffic." A show 01 hands was taken, and the motion was carried by a large majority.