NO-LICENSE MEETING.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13274, 27 November 1911, Page 2

NO-LICENSE MEETING.

Thero was a large attendance at the Theatre Koyal last night, when Mr. A. 11. Atkinson, of Wellington, gave an address in favour of Noliconse. Tho Rev. J. 11. MacKenzie presided, and the Rev. W. 8. Lambert gave the opening prayer. The chairman said a fortnight ago he presided at a large meeting held in the Garrison Hail, in Dunedin, when he listened to addresses given by gentlemen from Invercargill, Oamaru, Ashburton, and Masterton, and their testimony was emphatically that Nolicense had proved a success in those electorates. Mr. MacKenzio urged that the open bars had been tried for a long •period, and surely now they might give No-license a trial. They knew what the open bars had done, and the people should now try what No-liccnso would do. If they found Xo-lioenso worked more mischief than during the existence of licenses, they could easily revert back to tht system of open bars. He urged the people to givo No-license a fair trial.

Mr A. 11. Atkinson, wiio was greeted with applause, in a long and argumentative address reviewed and took to pieces many of the statements of Professor Salmond, also those made by three \m-named University professors, who had issued a pamphlet against prohibition. Ho also reverted to tho advertisements and leaflets being issued by the liquor party, stating how illogical were many of the arguments used, and how out of date were many of the facts quoted in those documents. Ho emphasised that in America whore the will of the people favoured prohibitory laws, and there wero good and conscientious officials to see the laws enforced, prohibition had proved a decided success. Ho stated that in some States the in-ter-State commercial enactments, combined with corrupt officialism, had interfered with the enforcement of the prohibitory laws. He gave late returns to show how rapidly prohibition is spreading in America, and denied that tho people of Maine had gone back on prohibition. He urged that tho moderate drinkers and the voters were responsible for the existence of the liquor traffic. Ho asked. the moderate drinkers to consider the evil tho traffic was doing, and to weigh it over in their minds whether tho cvii should continue to be perpetrated in order that their personal desire for liquor should bo gratified. That was what each moderato drinker would have to face, voting for tho continuance of tho misery and evil caused by the traffic and personal gratification; or voting so as to put an end to the wretched business. MiAtkinson resumed his seat amidst applause, Mr. McLaren said the No-license party was indebted to Mr. Atkinson for coming to address the Nelson people, and for the admirable reply Mr. Atkinson had written to Professor Salmond. Ho moved a vote of thanks to Mr Atkinson and the chairman, which was carried by acclamation.

Mj*. Atkinson said some men working at a sawmill in the King Country had sent for some copies of the pamphlet ho had written, and stated between 30 and 40 of them intended to vote for National Prohibition. It \vag oheerlng to hear that tho working peoplo wero thus taking up the question.

The meeting closed after the Rev. John Crump had pronounced the Benediction.

To-day Mr. Atkinson will speak at the Port at 12.30 p.m. A No-license meeting will be held in the Appleby Sunday school this evening at 8 o'clock.

When mother is sick you give her MartoH's Brandy; vlirn daddy's not noil you give him Martell's; if Prohibition is in force you must pay the doctor instead.