Page 3 Advertisements Column 3

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12845, 1 December 1905, Page 3

NOTICES. 3rd Bee., 1905. TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BARNARD STREET. , Services will be conducted by the Rev. Thomas Stinson, 8.A., at 11 o'clock in the morning,, and at 6.50 o'clock in the evening. yT^imW At the recent meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbytexian Church. he.d at Auckland, a resolution Mas UNANIMOUSLY adopted " rejoicing in the continual and increasing evidence of the benefits of no-license in electorates where the issue had been carried and maintained; deploring the increase of drunkenness among colonial young men, and the many tragic fatal results which had been reported as due to the influence of intoxicating liquor; and cordially urging all office-bearers and people to vote for the removal of drmkingbars at the approaching eleciiou poll." The Assembly also recommended that " Temperance %Sunday" be observed in all our Churches and Mission Stations throughout New Zealand.

Father Hays' Visit, THE MORAL ASPECT OF LIQUOR LEGISLATION. AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. THE REV. FATHER HAYS, who, styled, by Leo XIII. as "a true apostle,'* lias also received for himself and his work the apostoiic benediction of Pius i X., will give his final address in the South Island, this evening, at the Canterbury! Ha'J'. • Yesterday a representative of " The Press"' had a most interesting interview with the Rev. Father regarding his tour of the South Island, our liquor legislation, and the temperance question generally. "I am perfectly satisfied with the result of my tour in the South Island of tliis colony," said Father -Hays. " Inueed, the results have quite exceeded my anticipations." " But you have not had the official support of the Roman Catholic Church?" "Time, I have not had their active cooperation, but I have been well supported Roman Catho'ics all through the colony eo far, one-third in most places, in some one-half, of my audiences having been of my own faith, i have made it. a practice throughout life to make no enemy. I mix with men of all creeds, and am on friendly terms* with everybody. I respect the convictions of other people. We .should give everyone credit for honesty of purpose, and judge no one rasblv." "*. " What is : " " local option?" " Well," replied Father Hays, "hi the first place leb me say that I do not like that word ' prohibition)' that one hears so freely used. It sounds harsh and tyrannical. It is lawful for a man to take a glass of beer if he can xlo so in moderation, and without inflicting any harm upon himself or doing any injury to his' family, and I should cot prohibit him. On the" other hand my own experience among the masses of the people has convinced me that where public-houses lie-thickest on.the ground there is always to be found the most pauperism and degradation, and I may at once say that I am thoroughly satisfied that moral suasion alone will never successfullv cope with the drink problem. Legislation of some sort, then, is necessary. What follows? It is only right that, out of mere self-defence, springing from the liberties of Englishmen, because of their- inheritance of. the liberties of Britons, that the people in their own districts should have power to defend their homes from the invasion of any morali pestilence as well as any physical force. I have always considered it unjust and coercive to place down in the midst of the people, and against their own will and wishes, a. licensed temptation which may be a grave peril to their own homes aad families.

THE EFFECT OF NO LICENSE. "But do you not think it -unfair that, because two -persons in a district do not want to drink, a third should be prevented against his will from doing so?" " That is not the effect of Xo-License under local option," Father Hays replied. " All that happens is that a it-op is put to the sa-'e of intoxicants in open bars. Those who wish to drink can do so hi their own homes. But supposing that were the effect. I admit, it is hard that one mar. should be knocked down hv two others, but do you not think it still harder that ito. a moral question one man should have the power to knock down two others? I wo;:ld leniind you that all lecislative action is determined by much smaller majorities, so thar taxation, for instance, may be legally irr.p.'.'cd upon a whole nation by a majority of a sis sic vote!'