WELLINGTON PROHIBITION LEAGUE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9840, 22 February 1893, Page 2

WELLINGTON PROHIBITION LEAGUE.

A meeting of the Prohibition League wee held last night in the Baptiat Church, Vivian street, undir the presidency of Mr Dodgshnn. About 35 pereono wore present. The Chairman opened the proceeding! by pointing cnt that the recent deciai n of the Appeal Court in the Sydenham prohibition o»se bad made it necessary for the tem perance organisations, and e-peeially for the Prohibition League, to uae all their excr. tinea so aa to secure snob an amendment of the existing law aa will place the power of direct veto In the hands of the peiploand enable the majority of the residents of ary given district to declare through the ballot box that no pohliohouio licenses are to be issued within its borders. Aa a first step towards this end, means would have to be taken to increase the membership if the league.

Along and desultory diiou .aien followed. Mrs Jones suggested that the women should bring their influence to bear to secure the passing through Parliament of the women’s franchise.

In anawer to a question, the Chairman said the league now imnibered 242 members. Mra Lodge, who sal I ahe belonged be tin Sydenham League and had been in the fight for 20 years, suggested the expediency of holding pnblfo meetings and getting women to deliver addresses. If women were announced to speak the men would be euro to come along (Laughter and applause ) Their ends would only be achieved by agitation and education. Those sere the means adopted in Chrietabaroh. Monthly temperance sermons had aim been found of great help in Sydenham. Eventually the following resolutions were passed (1) Moved by Mr A. T. Thompeon, seconded by Mis Jones—Tbat’tlls league do all iu Its power to get the women's franchise passed at the earliest possible opportunity. (2) Moved by Mr Ha'obins, seconded by Mr Paiker—That the secretary forward to each member of the league a card oantsining ten lines with a request to obtain ten new members for the league. (3) Moved by tbs Chairman, seconded by Mr D. Hall (City Missionary)—That a pledge le submitted to members far signature aa follows ; I, the undersigned, do hereby pledge myself not to vote for any candidate for Pailiamentary honours unless such candidate is prepared to - give to the people the right to the direct veto of the drink traffic 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. Isltt in voluntarily giving up bis proposed trip to America (imple funds for wbfoh had already been provide ) to obtain for the people the right to the direot veto, and so remedy the difficulty caused by the recent Appeal Court decision. (5) Moved by Mr Helliweil -That the executive be recommended to tend delegates to the various temperance bodies with a view of securing concerted sotion.

The Chairman mentioned that steps were being taken to form a temperance choir with the view of holding a series of entertainments during the winter months.