UNITED TEMPERANCE REFORM, COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2513, 14 May 1902, Page 13

UNITED TEMPERANCE REFORM, COUNCIL.

DISCLAIMS PRO-BOER SENTIMENTS. MR J. G. WOOLLEY'S ATTITUDE. A meeting of the United Temperance Reform Council was held on the sth inst. and subsequently a deputation, consisting of Dr B. E. de Lautour (president), Rev. W. A. Sinclair (vice-president), Mr A. S. Adams (vice-president), and Mr J. M. Innes (secretary) waited upon the editor of the Ofcago Daily Times and brought under his notice the resolutions unanimously adopted by the council. Dr de Lautour said the deputation had been appointed by the council at a most enthusiastic meeting held that night to, in the firat place, disclaim any sympathy whatever with pro-Boer 3entimente or any knowledge that such sentiments were held by Mr J. G. Woolley. The following ,-resolution was passed at the meeting, -and the deputation were empowered to bnng it under the notice of the editor of the Times:— Moved by Rev. W. A. Sinclair, seconded by Mr J. A. D. Adams — " That this meeting of the United Temperance Reform Council disclaims any sympathy with pro-Boer sentiments; it instructs its secretary to communicate immediately with the New Zealand Alliance to ascertain if the statements attributed to Mr WooUey are correct, and, in the event of their being as represented, imperatively demands that the Alliance cancel the engagement with Mr Woolley." . The Editor: It is a very clear and explicit declaration on the part of the council. Dr de Lautour said that was so, but' it did not really express the sentiments of the meeting— it was not strong enough. The Editor: That is very satisfactory. TEe Rev. Mr Sinclair remarked that one speaker said the Gaelic laoutuft^e should bo

called into use to oxj>res3 J?ie councilor strong feeling. — ffiaughter.) Mr Adams thought ho was justified i? saying that the Alliance had; no knowledgil of the writings or sentiments creflitts&V to - Mr Wbollejr. He had ~ boon in constani communication for years with the Alli^nc« office. The Editor presumed the officers of the Alliance read Mr Woollcy's paper. Mr Adams could not say anything as t<( " that. He might say, - however, that Mx , Woolley was his guest when he was * in; Dunedin -last year, ' and 'hot a syllable wai' uttered by him at that time to indicate, that ~ ' he held such views. '. " The Editor remarked that M* "Woollej ' ~ probably knew the patriotic feeling of th«" " colony too well to express his opinions, ij was evident they were his sentiments ; an* .' that being so, he had to say, quit© irrespei ~ tive of the object of Mr Woolley's , mission^ that if Mr Woolley were imported into th« • colony it would damage the temperance cause more than anything else the Alliance * could do. After a conversation with the editor, the deputation thanked him for his courteous - reception and retired. , . ■ ,*