PROHIBITION COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 39

PROHIBITION COUNCIL.

Christchurch, April Hi,

Tho annual convention of the Canterbury Prohibition Council was opened today, the Rev R. W. Isitt presiding. The report, in referring to tho work of the year, said: —“The Council might thank the Christchurch Licensing Committee for much of the progress made. The utter disregard shown by that committee tor consideration of public morality sent a ihrill of righteous indignation throughout tho community, and the committee believed that a few more such cases as this would seal the doom of the traffic.” The report referred to the inability or unwillingness of the police to cope with Sunday trading and other lawless proceedings, and stated that tho coinmil tee knew of more sly-grog selling prevailing in Canterbury than in the Clutlia electorate, where Prohibition was partly enforced.

Exception was taken to tho statement that there was more sly-grog selling in Canterbury than in Clutlia, Imt several of the delegates warmly supported the inclusion of the clause.

Mr T. E. Taylor introduced the question of the legislative progress made. He combatted the assertion of the Premier that the .Ministry deserved credit for the advance made in temperance legislation, lie moved, “That the thanks of this Council arc hereby presented to those members of the House of Representatives and the few in the Legislative Council who made a stand for the principles of political liberty advocated by the Prohibition Party by which the rights of tho people to control the liquor traffic are recognised.” A motion congratulating the National Council of Women on the success of their meetings was also carried. It was also resolved to urge upon the Temperance Party throughout the province the importance of complete organisasation in view of tho approaching election.

At this evening’s sitting the question of the licensing election was discussed at great length, and it was resolved to recommend all Prohibitionists to strike out the top line only of the local option voting paper, so that they would cast their votes for “no license,” and allow tho reduction vote to stand for what it is worth. April 17.

This morning the Prohibitionist Council decided that the societies should nominate a week before the election candidates for the various offices, nominations for delegates to tho Colonial Council (Wellington)

to bo sent to the Executive, who are also empowered to fix the date of the next annual meeting of the local convention.

The Rev L. M. Isitt was elected bon vice-president.

Jt was resolved—" That this Council recommends that steps lie taken in every electorate to secure the selection of candidates of moral worth who will pledge themselves to support tho principle of untrammelled control of tho liquor traffic by the people.”