TEMPERANCE CONVENTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12991, 4 June 1904, Page 10

TEMPERANCE CONVENTIONS.

Tlffl NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE. (Pku United Pbess Association.) CHRISTCHUROH, June 3. ■ At' tlio' meeting of the New Zealand Alliance to-day. Mr A. S. Adams.was reoteotctl president. Vice-president were elected as follows: .1. A. D. Adams (Bup-cdin), W. S. Allen (An-utnilale), Sirs A. Y. Atkinson (Wellington), AAV. U.- Bassitt '.(Wanganui), ,T. S. Baxter (Invercar gii|, A. U. Broad (Duncdin), T. Buxton (Jiiikavewa), ti. Carson (NVaiigamii), ,). Uoupland (Auckland), .S. AV'. Currie (Bilolutlia), C. D.illaston '(Wellington), J. , Dawson .(Wellington), J. Uoull (Bulls), AY. A. Evans (Wellington), i\ H. i'rascr, M.L.CJ. (Wellington), t". H. Garland (Christchiircli), A. Goldie (Auckland), Archdeacon Grace (Blenheim), T. G. Hammond (Patea),' A. Moby (Wellington), the Ji«. De Herat. HovellJ Dean of AViapu (Napier), K. 0. Hughes (Sew Plymouth), K liutson (Stratford), 'F. AY. Isitt (Wellington), L. Jl. Isitt (Christchurcli), .1. 'W. Jngo (Uunedin), 1 , . W. Jones (Poildiiig), \V. Kerr (Aukland), Dr ■ Knight (Auckland), J. Knott (Christehurcli), T. M. Laiie (Whangarcn), J. licnnio (favcicrgill), R. .M'lNau (Mataura), Okey (New Plymouth), AV. C. Oliver (Wellingloii), Mrs Ostler (Levin), 11, (.!. Robbins (Hawcra), G. W. Smith (Christdiureh), AV. Scth-Smilh (Ngapara), W. L. .Smith (Auckland),' >S. M. ftpedding (Auckland), .). Stubbs (Palmerston North), I'l. 11..T«y:or (Thames). T. E. Tayiur (Christchureii), Rev. Dr R. AVaddoll (Duncdin), .S. B. White (New Plymouth), Rev. AV. .1. Williams (Auckland). Tlio following resolutions were, carried:—

"That this convention recommends tliat active (irganisatio.n he created by the party in every electorate in the colony to assist candidates favourable, to our ci'.use, and in every ease where such candidates arc not available to assist in procuring same,"

"That a , committee be set up to confer with tlio executive as to some colonial method of publishing and distributing litei.iUtrc."

"That the Revs. Isilt, Damson, Lee, and Mr.A. S. Adams be a committee, with power to add." "That tlio Rev. A. Donll hs appointed special Alliance representative in Auckland." "That Mesas A. E. Atkinson and John Collins l:o representatives on tho Allianc? for AVellington members." "That tlio Alliance, inform the licensing committees .of. Newton and Bruco that n undertake.; to my tlio cosls of litigation in the law courts in relation to the proc3edii)gis to test the rights of Ihc people- in Neivtown and Bruco, and that the party will vigorously protest against any claim for compensation to licensees or others being entertained by the House or Government. That i:o appeal for a new poll be made, for Nowtowu and Bruce. That an m-gent demand 1» made tllat n bill be passed to remedy the defects of the law in relation to polls, and that a bill bo prepared and introduced on llw first day of the session, tlio. preparation. of tho bill to be left :to tho. president and .Air A. R. Atkinson." "That the. question of further legislation bo left to the executive..' , "That ■the question-of establishing temperance, clubs in all centres of New Zealand whore practicable as a counter-attraction to hotels bo left to the executive of the Alliance." "That this convention desires to draw the attention of the electors cf the colony and of members of the House of Representatives to the tact thai in Tangiterora (Auckland), in Kaiwarre (Wellington), Ge-raldine, and other places in the colony, magistrates have, in cases against licensees in which endorsement would follow a conviction, granted adjournment to enable transfers of the licenses to be arranged for, and committees hovo sanctioned such transfers, and the provisions of the law have thus beeiij improperly evaded under judicial sanction. In some of these cases grave public scandals have been caused, notably in Tangiterorin, where it was found that a drunken man had been supplied with liquor and was drowiiod in consequence, and whore the owner of the house escaped all penalty because Mr Hutchison,' S.M., granted a transfer cf the license prior to the date at which the former licensee was convicted and fined for a triple offence. This convention protests against special protection being thus accorded to lawless traders, and demands that the law as to endorsements of licenses for wrongdoing be enforced, without respect to persons and without fear or favour." "That this animal meeting of members of the Now' Zealand Alliance expresses its conviction that it is impossible (o exaggerate the importance of tlio safe custody of ballot papers, both before and after :i poll, especially those connected with tho local option poll. It is convinced that the grossest carelessness was displayed in this matter by many Government officials throughout the colony, and expresses its regret and indignation that, although tho sworn evidence of the Rev. K Walker showed that certain unused and unusuable ballot paper* wore asked for by tho Alliance on December 29. 1902, at his request, and for a perfectly ' innocent purpose, certain members of the A to L l'arliamentary Public Petitions Committee showed an absolute want of cither common honesty or common intelliirer.ee in recording their conviction that the. papers asked for on December 29 were wanted for iho purpose of upsotting polls that could not have been petitioned against on any date later than December 9. It respectfully-requests Hip House of Representatives at" its next session to order that i>. finding'so discreditable to its _ members shnll 1)0 exmmgeil from its recorus.