CANTERBURY PROHIBITION COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 29

CANTERBURY PROHIBITION COUNCIL.

Christchurch,- April 16,

The annual convention of the Canterbury Prohibition Council was opened to-day, the Rev. F. W. Isitt presiding. The report, in referring to tho work of bhe year, stated : " The council may thank the Cbrfstchurcb Licensing Committee for much of the progress made. The utter disregard shown by that committee for the conservation of public morality sent a thrill of righteous indignation throughout the community, and the committee believed that a few more such cases as this would seal tbe doom of the traffic." Tha 'report referred to the inability or unwillingness of the police to cope with Sunday trading and other lawless proceedings, and stated that the committee knew of mores sly grog-selling prevailing in Canterbury than, in the Clutha electorate, where prohibition was partly enforced. Exception was taken^to the statement that there was more sly grog-soiling in Canterbury than in Clutha. Several of the delegates warmly supported the inclusion of the clauie. Mr T. B. Taylor introduced the question of the legislative progress made. He combated the assertion of the Premier that tbe Ministry deseived credit for the advance^made in temperance legidUWoB. He moved, and it was carried — "That the thanks of this council are hereby presented to those members of the House of Representatives and a few in tbe Legislative Council who made a stand for the principles n of political liberty advocated by the. Prohibition party, by which the rights of the people to control the liquor traffic are recognised." A motion congratulating the National Council o£ Women on the success of their meetings was also carried, ft was also resolved

to urge upon the Temperance party throughout the province the importance of complete organi* sation, in view of the approaching elections. _ At this evening's sitting the question of the licensing election was ducnsi-ed ab great length. It was resolved to recommend all prohibi!.ioui»fcs to strike oat the top line only of the local option, voting paper, thus caiting their votes for " no license" and allowing the reduction vota t» 6tand for what ib is worbh.