UNITED TEMPERANCE REFORM COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 37

UNITED TEMPERANCE REFORM COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the above society was held .on the 10th inst., and was well attended. The following is the annual report, which was unanimously adopted: — “ During the year ending March 31 there have been held nine ordinary and four special executive meetings and six meetings of the full council. Most of these have been well attended, and thanks are due to those who have, at considerable sacrifice to themselves, thus made use of both time and money to help forward the temperance cause. The usual work has gone steadily forward during the year, but the -outstanding feature, of course, has been- the passing into law of a new Licensing Act, which provides Dominion option in addition to local option, for raising the age at which youths shall be supplied with liquor to 21 years, that no more women shall be engaged as barmaids, and, what is of special interest to us in Dunedin, for the abolition of bottle licenses. . The act also provides machinery for the improved enforcement of the no-license law in those areas that have adopted it. The loss of the reduction vote is regretted by many. As. however. owing to present political conditions, we could not have gained a Dominion vote unless at the sacrifice of the reduction issue, it is generally felt that a right step has been taken in allowing the reduction issue to 'be eliminated. Seeing that the No-license party had a majority at the last poll of 33,331 —equal to 53i per cent, of those voting—it is generally felt that it is time the final phases of the movement were entered upon. The council also rejoices in the fact that our Native brethren arc now enabled, by a simple majority vote, to pass a law prohibiting themselves from being supplied with liquor in any district controlled by a Maori Council. During the year your secretary (Mr G. B. Nicholls) was granted three months’ leave, to enable him to help in the New' South Wales campaign for nolicense. Though this did not result in the carrying of any area for no-license, yet the full force of an aroused liquor traffic was met for the first time, and, in spite of all that they could do, the no-license vote advanced by nearly 40,000. Applications for three wholesale licenses were refused by the Licensing Committee in March. These were applied for to take the place of some of the bottle licenses, which expire on June 30 next, A series of open-air “ Catch-my-pal ” meetings was started in the Octagon a few weeks ago, and have been well attended. Efficient speakers have been provided, and many persons have taken the total abstinence .pledge. The secretary reports that he has done a good deal of canvassing during the last few months, and that the outlook seems encouraging. He hears of no persons who formerly voted with us forsaking no-license, but encounters many who say they are going to vote for that policy and for Dominion prohibition for the first time at the next poll. The publication during the year of a' pamphlet against no-license by Professor Salmond was also a matter of interest. This has been ably replied to by the president of the council (Mr A. S. Adams) and others, and a full reply in pamphlet form by Mr A. S. Adams is now in the press. Professor Salmond’s effort has served the useful purpose of stimulating interest.” The election of officers resulted as follows President, Mr A. S. Adams (reelected); vice-president, Rev. G TCnowles Smith and Mr H. D. Bedfoul; treasurer, Mr Wardell; exmitive —Revs. W. _ Slade, E. Drake, G. Dallas! on, and 6. Heigh•way, Messrs Wilkinson, P. Dick, T. J. Orr, and D. Gain. Votes of thanks were passed to the auditm-s, Messrs G. G. . Heigh way and Beckingsale, who were re-elected; to the

Moray Place Congregational Church and Messrs Adams Bros, for the use of rooms for meetings; to the several speakers at the open-air meetings, and to the press for their generous notices of the meetings, etc.