TEMPERANCE REFORM COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 58

TEMPERANCE REFORM COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Temperance Reform Council was held on the 21st, when there was a good attendance of members. Mr A. S. Adams occupied the chair. The chief business of the meeting was a discussion on the forthcoming no-iicense campaign and a i. umber of arrangements were made. The Auckland Temperance Reform Council forwarded the following statement with regard to the closing of bars in Auckland during the present industrial trouble: “ That the closing of hotel bars has contributed to the sobriety of Auckland is manifest to all who use the thoroughfares. Not only are the footpaths around the hotels more free from the habitues and resultant dirt, but the comparison'of the drink-caused business at the Police Court is of still greater interest. During the first week of the strike the bars were open, and the court had to deal with 45 cases caused by drink. During the second week of the strike the bars were closed, and only eight cases had to bo attended to. One said that he obtained the drink before the bars wore closed, another said that he got his from Onehunga, pnd two others were methylated spirit victims. For the first time for many years the cells wore unoccupied on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday the Licensed Victuallers’ Association the magistrates to reopen the bars. The Strike Committee opposed, and the application was refused.”