WELLINGTON PROHIBITION LEAGUE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1095, 24 February 1893, Page 38

WELLINGTON PROHIBITION LEAGUE.

A meeting of the Prohibition League wsa held last Tuesday in the Baptist Church, Vivian street, under the presidency of Mr Dodgshun. About 35 persons were present. The Chairman opened the proceedings by pointing out that the recent decision of the Appeal Court in the Sydenham prohibition case had made it necessary for the temperance organisations, and especially for the Prohibition League, to use all their oxertiona bo as to Becure such an amendment of the existing law as will place the power of direct veto In the hands of the people and enable the majority of the residents of any given district to declare through the ballot box that no publichouee licenses are to be issued within Its borders. As a first stsp towards this end, means would have to be taken to increase the membership of the league. A long and desultory discussion followed. Mrs Jones suggested that the women should bring their influence to berr to seourethe passing through Parliament of the women’s franchise; In answer to a question, the Chairman said the league now numbered 242 members. Mrs Lodge, who said she belonged to the Sydenham League and had been in the fight for 20 years, suggested the expsdienoy of holding pubilo meetings and getting women to deliver addresses. If women were announced to speak the men would be sure to come along. (Laughter and applause.) Their ends would only be achieved by agitation and eduoa'ion. Those xere the means adopted in Christohurch. Monthly tomperanoe sermons had also been found of great help in Sydenham. Eventually the following resolutions were passed ;—•()) Moved by Mr A. T. Thompson, seconded by Mrs JoneK—That this league do all in its power to get the women’s franchise pas-ed at the earliest possible opportunity. (2) Moved by Mr Hutohins, seconded by Mr Paiker—That the secretary forward to each member of the league a card cautaining ten liaes with a request to obtain ten new members for the league. (3) Moved by the Chairman, seoonded by Mr D. Hall (City Missionary)—That a pledge te submitted to members for signature as follows: I, the undersigned, do hereby pledge mysplf not to vote for any candidate for Parliamentary honours unless such candidate is prepared to give to the people the right to the direct veto of the drluk traffio without compensation. (4) Moved by Mr Helyer—That this meeting desires to express its high appreciation of the self, sacrificing spirit manifested by the Rev L. M. Isitt in voluntarily giving up his proposed trip to America (ample funds for whiok had already been provide r) to obtain for the people the right to the direct veto, and so remedy the difficulty oaused by the recent Appeal Court decision. (5) Moved by Mr Helliwell-That the executive be recommended to send delegates to the various temperance bodies with a view of securing concerted action. The Chairmxn mentioned that steps were being taken to form a temperance choir with the view of holding a series of entertainments during the winter month*.