PROHIBITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7341, 22 July 1892, Page 4

PROHIBITION.

o MEETING OP THE SYDENHAM LEAGUE. Though the weather last night was vory unf avonrable, about 200 persons assembled in the Wesleyan Schoolroom afc the general meeting of the Sydenham Prohibition League. Mr T. Cutler was voted to the chair. Twenty persons gave in their names, paid their subscriptions and were elected members of the League. Mr T. E. Taylor said the business for which the niee.inE. had been called was to consider the position of the Licensing Committee winch had been elected to carry out the wishes of tho ratepayers. Though they had received, as it were, a slap in the face, they were not to be daunted in their efforts to bring aboufc the object they had in view. Toe movement which had been initiated in that room in April, 1891, had really become an important movement throughout the Colony, and there was not a town between the North Cape and Stewart laland without its organisation having for ita object tho suppression of tho liquor traffic; indeed, Leagues were in existence iv places where it was not thought probable that such organisations could be obtained. Sydenham had every reason to be pleased at the result, as the whole of the aggressive movement had arisen since it had been initiated there. As far as the present position of affairs went, and in addition to asking every one of these organisations to assist them, they had now a claim on all men who loved Liberalism, whether they were teetotallers or not, because it had become a question whether the people Bhould or should not have the control of local licensing matters; it was necessary for them to say whether the people were to govern or not. The liquor traffic had not been conducted for the benefit of the community, and it was for them to say, as they had .aid very emphatically at the poll, that they would have none of it. The time had arrived when in all these matters majorities must rule. It was of no use for him to take up their time in going over the details of the judge's decision in the recent case, as they had doubtless all read it. No doubt many did not understand it, but they had ifc before them and could make the best of it. Jndge Denniston had given his opinion that the Act was one which provided for the regulation of the traffic, and that, except through an evasion it could not bo employed as a prohibitive measure. Under the circumstances they could not avoid taking the question to the Court of Appeal. They had funds in hand which would pay all the expenses up to date — (cheers) — but as for the expenses of the appeal, they would require contributions from the public. Whatever the amount was, he was assured that every farthing would be found, and found very readily. (Cheers). As far aa he could see, the decision showed that Mr White was tho only man of the Committee who possessed a judicial mind (laughter); in fact all Prohibitionists were incapable of acting with a judicial mind, while their opponents were men of good character, with judicial minds. (Laughter). The whole of the teetotal party in New Zealand had been thus insulted. He did not know what would happen if applications were made to the Supreme Court to grant licenses to the wholo of tho eight houses. The Government was to be asked to remove the four Prohibition members. He had been informed that there could be no new election, but that tho vacancies caused by the removal of Messrs Isitt, Beattie, Hopper and Smith would be filled by the nominees of the Government or the Governor, and that meant that they would be the nominees of the .Liquor Party. If, on the other hand, the Governor declined to nominate them, they would be aB they are now. The whole question was surrounded by doubt. The Judge might decide to hear the applications himself for all they knew. It had cost a lot of time, trouble and money to find this out, aud now it became a question as to what steps the League — as a League — should take to secure the advantage gained. They had decided to present a petition to the Governor asking him nofc to remove these members, and thi3 petition they desired circulated throughout the borough, and ho was convinced that three out of every four adult residents in the borough would sign it. He had been told that the Bootmakers' Union, at its meeting on the previous night, had considered the question, and had adopted a resolution supporting the direct veto at the ballotbox, which resolution had been forwarded to Wellington. He hoped other similar organisations would assist in the same way. Referring to tho proposed meeting to be held to consider' the advisablenesa of dividing the borough into wards, ho said ho was not prepared to say that the movement was in opposition to the prohibition movement, but ifc would be necessary for them to watch it, as, if tho Liquor Party could divide it into wards for borough purposes, they would also doit for licensing purposes. It waß decided that none but bond fide residents in the Borough, of adult age, should be allowed to sign the petition. Mr Taylor then referred to the fact that when the Act of 1881 was nnder discussion in Parliament, Mr Alfred Saunders had -stated that ifc provided the power to