THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 16

THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

The Temperance Political Committee held their regular weekly meeting in Milton Hall on Saturday evening, when a large number of societies were represented. The Chairman reported that at the suggestion of some of tho members, he, .together with Mr Cameron, had on the evening of the 31st interviewed the Workers' Political Committee, with the object of effecting a union of the two committees for this special event. They had been well received, and he had since learned that the Workers' Committee had passed a resolution agreeing to the union, and he was glad to see several of the members present. The action was enthusiastically confirmed. Owing, however, to a meeting called for the purpose of winding up the Labour Day sports business, many members of both committees were unable to attend, and it was determined to hold over' any specially important business until next meeting. It was considered prudent, as the Prohibition League had determined to make a special effort to secure a prohibition vote at the coming poll, that " this committee shall confine its efforts to the return of a Licensing Committee composed of persons who will pledge themselves to use their utmost efforts to take advantage of the full 25 per cent, diminution of licenses, and to otherwise enforce the law as to 'sales during prohibited hours, to drunken persons and to children, as well as other violations and evasions of the act." The chairman and secretary were iostructed to issue a circular to the officers of all tbe churches within the district-, inviting them to send three delegates each to co-operate in this work, as well as to urge upon all societies who have not appointed their delegates to endeavour to have them present at the next meeting, when probably steps would be taken for the selection of gentlemen for nomination to the Licensing Committee. The Secretary reported that an invitation had been issued to the various societies likely to take an interest in the movement to make arrangements for tho demonstration on the eve of the election.

A meeting of delegates from the chief centres of the Bruce electorate was held in Milton on Friday evening last to consider what action should be taken in view of the licensing election in March. After a good deal of discussion it was agreed that the Rev. E. Walker's advice to address a circular to all the electors be adopted, and that he be asked to prepare euch a circular as he spoke of, setting forth the powers of electors and urging apon them the desirability of voting for prohibition at the poll to be taken in March.

Mr W. T. L. Travers succeeds the late M. Lostalot de Bachoue as Vice-consul for France at Wellington.