THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15301, 15 November 1911, Page 9

THE NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN

PROFESSOR MILLS'S ADDRESS.'

The Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., presided over a good attendance of the public in tlio Garrison llall lost night, wnen Professor Mills again delivered a stirring address u|)on the no-liconso question. In intioducing tliu speaker the Chairman made some reierenco to a paper which was circulakxl in front of the hall, which contained some defamatory statements in reference to Professor Mills. lto said tliat he had received his copy of- the same paper through tho post, but it did not contain tho articles of stricturo upon tlio Professor, but that tlio liquor party had urrunged for tho extra copies witti this article in it. Tho person who wrote tlio matter in question was of no» consequence, and ho felt euro that no notice would bo taken of the false statements contuined in it.

Professor Mills who, upon rising was greeted with rounds of applause, said ho Had nothing to fear from tho scurrilous statements made by a man who was not recognised in any part of tlie States j n man who had made accusations against him beforo but who when called upon to substantiate them had been unablo to do so. As a matter of fact, ho (Professor Mills) had tho distinction of being tlio otiicial representative of tlio State ot Milwaukee under tho seal of tho corporation of that Statn llu had not come to talk about himself,. however, but to speak of tho prohibition question. 'They wore told that they were trying to tako away tho rights of tho people, but ho maintained that beforo a man could havo a right ho must first of all havo a duty. Unlosa ho performed this duty ho could not establish a right. This right could not bo proved by placing a man in au unnatural position. Ihey had a right to their lives, but that right was forteitcd as soon as they lifted their hand to tako another life. Tho liquor traffic forfcitod its right by reason of tlie lifted hand of liquor against tlio lives of tlioso who drank it. Tho brewer was very anxious just now for tho public good, and ho would s&crifico anything.for tlio public good, but he would also sacrifice tho public goOd for his own pockoL—(Laughter.) .They woro told that if prohibition was carriod it'would mean loss of employment to 1100 peoplo and that taxes would go up. Thoro was an assumption on tho part of the publican that if tlio money was not Bpcnt on beer thoro would bo no money at all.— (Laughter.) In regard to tlio question of taxes, ho assurod them that under nolicenso tho taxes would not cost so much to collect and as a natural conscqucnco they would not bo so high. Ilis reply to tho plea for tlio men who would loso their employment consoquont upon tlio carrying of no-liccnso was that tlio barley _ which was now used in tho manufacturing of boor, could bo uiade into bread. This would employ more labour than did tlio making of boor, and what was a very important factor was that wheroas tho. beer mado tho man drunk and gavo him a disorderly mind, tho,, bread would feed countless families.—(Applauso). Thero were many reasons why'they should striko for tlio liberty of tlio people, and tlieso wcro so well known to them that tlioy needed no recapitulation. Ho urged upon them to stand tor tho rights of tne pooplo and not to lio gulled by statements such as wcro frequently hoard of tlio disaster that tho sweeping away of a trado which had dono nothing and had brought nothing but ruin upon' those who woro affected by it. Ho urgod them to sco to it thot in their ondoavour to wipo out this enemy of; socioty_ tlioy olccted to Parliament men whoso views coincided with their own. Ho concluded a stirring appeal to liia hearers for a unanimous vote for no-liccnso on polling day. At tho conclusion of tho address a number of questions were answered in a satisfactory manner and then a resolution of thanks, to Professor Mills and sympathy for him in tho dastardly attack made upon his character was moved by Mr Adams, and was carried amid cheers and tho singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."