OTAGO UNITED TEMPERANCE . REFORM COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20832, 26 September 1929, Page 15

OTAGO UNITED TEMPERANCE . REFORM COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the above was held on Tuesday., The president (Mr H. S. Adams) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of delegates and members. During tho evening Mr Jonathan Rhodes delivered an address covering observations during his recent trip to the -Old Land and, the United States of America.

Bpeaking of Britain, Mr Rhodes said he “expected her again to rise to prominence and lead among the nations, but in the meantime many of the leading industries were in a bad way, there being much poverty, unemployment, and suffering; but the leaders and people were thinking, and thinking hard,” and he he ■ lieved Britain would , yet surprise the : world in many avenues of industrial and social progress and reform. The new Government seemed to be determined on procommission to inquire into the effects of the liquor traffic on the national life; had refused to decrease the excise duties on liquor; and the Postmaster-general had announced in the House of Commons that the Government had decided that in tuture liquor advertisements should be excluded from post office buildings and publications Referring to the United ofcates, Mr Rhodes said "he marvelled at the wonderful progress and improvement m tne big cities compared to 20 years ago. there was a sweeping trade boom at the present time in the United States, a contributing factor to which had been the abolition of the waste and loss caused by the licensed liquor traffic. The whole nation seemed to be inspired and buoyantly prosperous There appeared a great ciflerence m this respect between the cities of the United States and Canada. Speaking of Prohibition, Mr Rhodes said the general verdict in the States was that it had caused a general improvement all T il ere was . no doubt in the States that the provisions of the eighteenth amendment would be enforced as effectively as all other laws. President Hoover was making marked progress in this direction. Just recently, in BuffaJo, a large number of Canadian brewers and distilllers were indicted for conWW Bmi] BS l ipg liquor ’ across the border. Those indictments called attention to a situation that could not long continue, whereby the citizens of one country could flout the laws of a friendly neighbour with impunity. Mr Rhodes expressed great hopes in the active cooperation of Great Britain and the United States in world affairs, saying that in •the near future they were going to render much service and blessing to the nations of Hie earth.

On the motion of the chairman, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Rhodes for his interesting talk.