TEMPERANCE CONVENTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11807, 9 August 1900, Page 6

TEMPERANCE CONVENTIONS.

(Per United Press .Association.)

AUCKLAND, August 8.

A meeting under the auspices of the" New Zealand .Alliance passed resolutions protesting against the proposal to abolish the local option poll, and against granting 11 o'clock licenses, against the introduction of licenses* into the King Country, and asking for an inquiry into the disenfranchisement of a large number of citizens at the. last general election.

GISBORNE, August 8. At a temperance convention held here this afternoon resolutions were passed opposing alterations in the licensing laws in the direction •• of removing triennial polls, urging that prohibition should be made a distinct political plank at the next general election, and protesting against the introduction of liquor, into the King Country. The meeting expressed the opinion that the proposed Government action in this matter should have been made known before the last election.

PALM.ERSTON NORTH, August 8. A conference representing the churches and the temperance societies in the Palmerston, Rangitikei, Manawatu, Otaki, and Pahiatua electorates met at Palmerston this evening, and resolved: " (1) That the meeting protests emphatically against the proposal to extend the local option provisions of the act of 1895 to the King Country, and demands the application and enforcement of clause 33 to that district, penalising the suppliers of liquor for sale in the King Country; (2) that the delegates promote petitions in their districts against the opening of the King Country to licenses, and request their parliamentary repi'esentatives to opvwse the retrogressive legislation ; (3) that the threat to abolish the local option poll, as provided for by the act of 1895, is regarded as an invasion of the people's rights, and an inversion of the progressive policy of the colony; (4) that any extension of the interval between the polls would be an unjust and uncalledfor interference with the rights of the people ; (5) that the proposal to substitute colonial ojition for local option is rviewed with extreme indignation ; (6) that the compulsory extension of closing hours of ■hotel bars without the assent of the people is a violation of the principles of local selfgovernment ;, (7) that the service of Christian churches to temperance reforms be acknowledged, and that they be invited to give still .more prominence to the advocacy of the abolition of the liquor traffic ; (8) that two distinct conferences- of delegates from churches and temperance societies be held annually- at convenient centres, representation to be as for the May Convention ; (9) that the Alliance Executive be urged to appoint two organising agents forthwith, one a lady ; (10) that the proposal'to experiment with the Gothenburg system .in the King Country is iniquitous and dangerous." A public meeting under the auspices of the convention was also held, the mayor presiding. Addresses were delivered by Mrs Atkinson, the Rev. Mr Lawry, Messrs Richards, Newbold, Abernethy, Hounsell, and Woollass. Resolutions supporting tho.se of the conference were carried.

WANGANUI, August 8.

A public meeting was held tins evening to consider licensing matters, particularly the opposition of the introduction of liquor into the King Country , and the mooted abolition of local option. The speakers represented all the denominations, and included the Rev. A. W. Williams (Church.of England), the Rev. T. G. Hammond (Wesleyan)—both- of whom have for years laboured specially among the Maoris, —Miss Eraser (principal of the Girls' College), the Revs. T. B. Mac Lean (Christchurch), G. Bond (Trinity Wesleyan), J. Cocker (Primitive Methodist), and three or four laymen of different denominations. All the speakers strongly condemned the introduction of liquor in any form into that country. They contended that to do so would be an unwarrantable broach of faith, and expressed the opinion that the question of "sly grog" was but a side issue, and, as an evil, could be suppressed if the controlling authorities were in earnest. .Resolutions were passed protesting against the introduction of liquor into the King Country, against the abolition of the local option poll, and against the proposal to take away from the people' the right to vote on the closing hours of licensed houses.