PROHIBITION QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18080, 3 May 1922, Page 8

PROHIBITION QUESTION.

5 _ *— ■.. i DEPUTATION TO SYNOD. ; VIEWS OF THE PRIMATE. J A plea for support for the cause-of pro- ' hibition during the coming election cam--1 paign was made to the General Synod , yesterday by a large deputation from the i New Zealand Alliance. The deputation 1 was introduced by Archdeacon G. Mac--8 Murray. The Rev. John Dawson, organising secretary for the Alliance, who acted as I spokesman, said that th© Alliance rep--0 resented 270,000 voters of the country— 3 the largest vote ever, given in New Zea- " land on any one issue. The liquor probII km, he said, was the Church's problem, ° and the world expected the Church to a solve it. Her failure would disappoint both friends and enemies. If the Church ! failed to bring forth the best results she d was in danger of forfeiting leadership in 6 moral reforms. The "Alliance was anxious 0 to co-operate with the Christian Church in an effort to bring about the highest 11 standard of Church efficiency in the solu- " tion of the liquor problem in the Dominion 1 this year. It was no longer enough to* ° oppose the-liquor traffic as a mere matter ? of abstract principle; the hour had arJ rived when the Church must accept responsibility for results. i In conclusion the speaker quoted a rnirat ber of declarations in support' of prohibition pronounced at recent- church conferI ences in different parts of the world. The Primate, Bishop Julius, said that as far as ho knew the General Synod had never passed any direct resolution on the subject of prohibition. Diocesan synods had expressed objection more than once to making any decision on the question, ' which they regarded as political. " I can assure you," he said, " that 50 years ago there were few clergy and fewer laity who could have listened so patiently to what you have said. v ßut a tho very vast majority at this moment, if J. not in favour of prohibition, aro in favour _ of a great change." ' . ° He was aware that a prohibition law d could and would be defeated in certain h quarters, but the important thing to note ip was that the number of sober and decenty living men would bo vastly increased, .o He expressed himself as being in favour of 8 prohibition in New Zealand under more d -favourable conditions. :e The Primate, was thanked for bis rog marks and the deputation withdrew.