UNITED TEMPERANCE REFORM COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19316, 31 October 1924, Page 2

UNITED TEMPERANCE REFORM COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the United Tem perance Reform Council was held on Tuesday evening. In the absence of the president (Mr Charles Todd), the chair was taken by Mr J. B. Shacklock. The meeting was well attended by representatives of many church congregations and temperance societies.

The speaker of the evening was Mr James Begg, of Dunedin. Mr Begg spoke of his experiences in British Columbia and the Western States of America. In his trip, said Mr Begg, he had ample opportunity of observing the operation of the laws affecting the liquor traffic. In British Columbia, where so-called State control operated, they had the daily spectacle of a lino of bootleggers arraigned before the authorities, varying in number from 13 to 17. This was a regular part of police routine, and from his observations in the two countries, bootlegging was more prevalent in State-con-trolled British Columbia than in prohibition America. He had been' disappointed at the business conditions in this part of Canada, and the price of commodities was' much higher than that obtaining over the border in the United States. It was the common practice of ladies in this part to take the short trip by boat into the States !o purchase their hats and other clothing in Seattle, where they get them at greatly reduced prices. Mr Begg then outlined the contrast to bo found in the United States, where prohibition was not now a subject of discussion. Some there were who still prated about personal liberty, but these were a small minority, and even they affirmed that there was no likelihood of the repeal of the prohibition laws. He had taken pains to find out, after the ending of a week of festivities at one town, whether there was evidence of drink, and he had strolled about that town looking for people who appeared to be influenced by drink. If drinking was even slightly prevailing, he felt sure that the close of the fair period would be the time to see signs of it, but he had not been able to find any evidence at all of drinking. Ho would not be able to say that at the close of an agricultural show in this country. Prohibition in America had come as a great and beneficial reform. Mr Begg’s address was warmly received, and a motion of thanks was heartily aocardsd him. Reports of progress in organisation and in the financing of the campaign were also received. At the close of the meeting the following resolution was carried unanimously:—“Resolved that the Prime Minister be informed that this United Tern perance Reform Council of Dunedin, representing many Christian congregations and the temperance societies of the city and environs, being part of the reform forces so strongly represented in this country, is stirred-.with feelings of ino/gnation at the aP_;r\ . made by the Parliamentary Licensing 'Committee to flout the wishes of this large body of electors who hav e expressed opposition to the sale of alcoholic liquors in New Zealand. This council requests you to strenuously oppose (he retrograde steps contained in the committee’s proposal and to press for a democratic ballot paper presenting two issues only—prohibition and continuance.”