NATIONAL PROHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7914, 25 September 1911, Page 1

NATIONAL PROHIBITION

YOUNG MEN'S LEAGUE FORMED. Xt was decided, at a public meeting held at the New Theatre last night, to form a Wellington Yeung Hen's Dominion Prohibition League. The meeting, which was largely attended, was addressed by the Itev. L, M- Isdtt, M.P.. Mr G. Laurensou, MJ?., prcaidod, and with him on the platform were also Sir Arthur Guinness, the Bev. F. W. Isitt, and M> A. Hoby. . Mr Isitt, who was introduced by the chairman as "the hero of a hundred fights,” said he believed that no other evil did so much to check the progress of the human race or degraded humanity so much as the drink evil did. and that the one pafrom that would pave the way for every other reform wa« liquor reform. After quoting the .last words of the late Mr T. B. Taylor that "Dominion prohibition was worth living for and worth dying for," which he said wore the words of no fanatic, but of a seer, he declared that he had no doubt whatever as to. tho attitude that should bo taken up on tho liquor queetion. Natiomal prohibition was a reform well worth seeking, and one the accomplishment of which was wore thy of the beet energy and effort of tho strongest and best men and women in tho community. If the drink evil were not crippled and destroyed it would grow upon the people with increasing strength. But they did not mean to allow this. They wore not fighting the method of distribution of strong drink; the thing they were fighting was the drug alcohol It was a thing that defied restriction and regulation altogether. They could talk as they liked about improving the'traflic, but as long as alcohol was left and used as a beverage, it would seek out its percentage of'victims and claim them for its own. Alcohol as a beverage was a scientific absurdity. The habit must be discountenanced and given up. From the very lowest aspect of the the financial aspect alone, -£5.000,000 a year could be saved-, to New Zealand through the accomplishment of this reform . ' Those who advocated it were not fanatics; they did not imagine they would bring the millennium to pass by getting men to sign the pledge, hut they did believe it -Would open ; the way for all other reforms that could be desired. He urged all young people to determine that they would play a very, big and enthusiastic part in securing this reform at the coming poll.' Young ’men and women in Christchurch had combined for this purpose and were doing splendid work, and he hopd that the example would be followed in Wellington. Ho concluded by moving: That this meeting resolves that a Wellington Young Men’s Dominion Prohibition League shall be formed.

and that another meeting be arranged as speedily as possible, at which members shall be enrolled, officer* elected, and a plan of campaignmapped out. The motion was seconded by ZJr A, K. Gray, and carried with unanimity. Mr Lauroneon congratulated the meeting upon its decision, and spoke of the power of young men to carry any movement to a* successful issue.