NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 30 October 1890, Page 28

NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Dunedin Auxiliary of the New Zealand Alliance was held in one of the rooms of the Y.W.C.A.. on Tuesday night, and was attended by some 25 members. The Hon. T. Dick, the president of the Auxiliary, occupied the chair. ANNUAL REPOBT. Mr A. S. Adams, the honorary secretary, presented the annual report, which was as follows : — Ladles and Gentlemen,— Your committee have pleaeure in presenting the following report for your consideration. One of the firat matters whioh engaged our attention after our election was that of the advisability of appointing a second agent of the Alliance. Communications were received from the executive asking for an expression of opinion on the subject, and we replied intimating that if the executive oould see their way to undertake the financial responsibility It would, in bhe opinion of this committee, be a great help to the work of the alliance to have another agent in the field. I'he executive afterwards advertieea for a suitable man for the appointment, with the result that the Key. IS. Walker, who is with us this evening, was selected. Mr Walker commenced his new work on the 7th July last, his engagement being a trial one for three months, and the executive asked this committee to undertake the direction and control of his movements in the Otago and Southland districts for that period, which we gladly agreed to do. A. meeting was arranged tor and held In the Choral Hall for the pnrpoie of introducing Mr Walker an the agent of the allianoe, at which the chair wa» ocoupled by our president, the Hon. Thomaa Dlok, and speeches were made by the Chairman, the Revs. W. Suundera, B. Waddell, and R. Walker, Messrs F. Graham, J. W. Jago, and others ; and resolutions were carried congratulating the alliance and Mr Walker on the appointment. Mr Walker has visited all the auxiliaries in Otago and Southland, and has held a large number of meetings, and organised a very oomplete system of leaflet distribution in nearly every place visited. He has also spent several weeks in organising aud holding meetings in Dunedin and suburbs. His firtt engagement expired on the 7th met., and your committee are glad to say that the executive have reappointed him until the annual meeting in March nexb. Mr Walker has already amply justified his appointment as agent of the alliance, and we trust will do much good work in its interests. Your committee resolved to hold two public meetings in support of the prohibition ticket at the last licensing election in the city ; but it was found that to do so would have interfered with the evangelistic meetings of Mrs Bueyertz then juit commencing, and they were in consequence not held. As soon as possibleyourcommitr.ee obtained a copy of the Local Prohibition Bill, which the Government had prepared and promised to introduce into the House last session, and finding that it purported to confer the power of veto by ballot, as desired by the alliance, we determined to do all in our power to support it. Advantage «vas taken of the publio meeting, before mentioned, to pass a resolution approving of the bill, and urging Its passage into law, and a copy of this was forwarded to the Minister in charge of the bill. Circulars were also sent to all the temperance societies in and around Dunedin, inviting them to pass similar resolutions, and forward them to the Ministers. Unfortunately, however, the bill was not introduced into the House. Mr Masters, the treasurer of the auxiliary, resigned his office in January last, and Mr A. 0. Broad was eleoted in his ttead. At the instance of Mr Broad, in the month of June, a deputation of members of the committee waited on the editon and managers of the Evening Star, Otago Daily Times, and Witneis newspapers, with the object of securing the regular publication of temperance matter in these papers, with the result that theeditors of the Times and Witness consented to publish coin mu a of matter under the auspices of the New Zealand Alliance, and have ainoe regularly done so. The editor of the Evening Star refused to make any arrangements. On the Ist September last the Evening Herald ceaaed to exist, and the Globs commenced publication in its stead. This paper has also undertaken to publish a weekly column of temperance matter. Mr Broad supplies the clippings for all these columns as well as for some country paperi. Mr Walker arranged with the editors of country papers to publish similar columns. Through Mr Walker's efforts arrangements have been made with the Dunedin W C.T.U. for a monthly house-to-house distribution ot allianoe leaflets in the city and suburbs, and it is hoped that at least 5000 per month will be so distributed. Barly in the year Mr Dyaon removed to, Obristohurch, and Mr Gain was appointed a member of the committee in his stead. MrW. A. Eanderson, being about to remove to Wellington, has also resigned, Th« general elections are approaching, and the first election of licensing committees under the triennial system will be held in February of next year. We trust that our successors will have the full support of the members and the temperance section of the oommunity irenerally in these and other matters whioh they will have to deal with, and that the good work may be continued under the blessing of Almighty God. The Pbesident, in moving the adoption of the report, said that it would be seen that the auxiliary had not been idle, and that he trusted they would do still better next year. The Rev. Mr Walker had been stirriDg up the fire in reference to temperance, had largely helped the work, and, as he had enlisted the help of the ladies ou behalf of the alliance, the combined strength should be considerable during the ensuing year. Mr D. Gain seconded the adoption of the report, which was agreed to unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following gentlemen were unanimously re-elected :— The Hon. Thomas Dick, president ; Messrs A. C. Begg, J. W. Jago, and R. N. Adams, vice-presidents ; Mr Broad, treasurer ; and Mr A. S. Adams, secretary. Ib was decided that there thould be seven instead of five members of commihtoe, in addition to the officers already appointed, and the following gentlemen were elected : — Messrs D. Gain, A. Barr, D. O. Cameron, Fleming, A. BruutoD, F. Graham, and the Rev. Mi' Ready. DISTILLATION. Mr A. S. Adams said that the Farmers' Union had laid down as one of the planks in its political platform the establishment of distilleries in the colony. This, it seemed to him, was a matter against which the efforts of every temperance society should be directed. Hb would move — " That iv the opinion of this meeting the institution of distilleries in the colony would bo productive of disastrous results financially and morally, and that the committee should be requested to take such action as they find practicable to prevent this being done." Mr Broad seconded the motion, which he heartily endorsed. Mr A. C. Begg said that he knew a large number of farmers ; and though this tort of representative body called the Farmers' Union had passed a resolution of the mentioned, he did not think it had the sympathy of the large body of settlers throughout the country. He thought the resolution proposed would have some effect in the country, and that it would be well to pass ir, because no doubt the object of the meeting of the Farmers' Union was to influence the elections. Mr R. N. Adams considered the motion opportune and wise. He thought the committee should compile a statement of facts in reference to distillation, showing what proportion of the profits on the manufacture of spirits was likely to reach the pockets of the farmers. The President expressed the opinion that the motion was useful and well-timed. He hoped sincerely that distilleries would not be es ablishcd here, and mentioned that when previously distillation was allowed for a short time, it was found necessary to repeal the act under which distilleries had been established, and to grant handsome compensation to those who had engaged in the business. The motion was put and carried unanimously. VOTES OP THANKS. Special votes of thanks were accorded to Mr A. S. Adams, the secretary, and to Mr Broad for the work ia supplying temperance extracts fqr

publication in various papers, and a general vote of thanks to the executive was carried by acclamation. The proceedings then cloried.