LIQUOR QUESTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 9

LIQUOR QUESTION

ADDRESS BY REV. H. G. GILBERT An audience of over 200 people was present in the Concert Chamber last night to hear an address on the subject of the liquor question by the Rev. H. G. Gilbert, representing the New Zealand Alliance. The Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) presided, and also on the platform were Professor S. F. Hunter, Dr J. D. Salmond, and Messrs H. S. Adams and F. W. Knight. Introducing the speaker, the Mayor said that the report of the Licensing Commission was' nearly ready, and should be available in the next few weeks. Its arrival would be awaited with the keenest interest. Mx Gilbert, who had retired'from active ministry in the Presbyterian Church, had given his services to the cause of temperance reform, and was well qualified to spteak on the subject. “The fight against the liquor trade is still on, and it is a more strenuous fight than ever. I make a sincere plea for a renewal of interest in the work of the alliance in its endeavours to curb and finally stamp out this evil,” Mr Gilbert said. Two of the greatest problems to be faced consisted of the unfortunate section of the public that was addicted to alcohol, and the other section that was addicted to big business and determined to amass huge profits regardless'of their origin The octopus tentacles of the liquor trade had spread to all aspects of social life, but some reason for optimism for the future was to be found in the fact that at the last liquor poll 269,000 people voted for prohibition. His task was to try to organise that fighting force and to enlist the support of the Christian Church. To win votes, all would have to become evangelists, and if each prohibitionist in this coutnry gained one convert, then prohibition would be an accomplished fact. The New Zealgnd Alliance stood for the absolute abolition of the liquor trade, Mr Gilbert said. Votes for State control, or even for trust control, were votes against prohibition. At present there was a great danger that, through the apathy of the people, what had been gained in the past would be lost. The liquor trade wished to get rid of 6 o'clock closing because it was so concerned about after-hours trading, and wanted to. return to 10 o’clock closing. It also wanted a longer interval between liquor polls: it wanted to abolish no-licence in the King Country and a redistribution of redundant licences. All these the alliance was determined to fight to the utmost, and as the Government had as much as promised new legislation on licensing the alliance had to watch the progress of events very closely. It realised, however, that the only way to overcome the evil was to cut it off at the source, and he urged all supporters of the alliance to devote their organising ability to the formation of a strong body that would secure the votes necessary to bring that about. Mr Gilbert was accorded a vote of thanks fqr his address.