PROHIBITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4741, 5 September 1893, Page 1

PROHIBITION.

♦ , The three city contingents of the Salva- ] tion Army sod the prohibitfeniets o! Sydenham antf Cfcristchurch held a* public ' meeting )a3b evsaJitig in the Victoria street | barraoks, in themtereßtaof the prohibition party. The meetfiagr was preceded iy a procession round tfaa square and neighbouring Btreets by the Salvationists and proMbifcionists, with brces fcands, torches, coloured fire, &c. A'botit one thousand persons were preeenfc. Solonel Bailey waa in charge of the proeeadings, and opened the meeting with the sieging and prayer customary to the Salvation Army. A very degraded-lookiDg object, who caused some amusement, was assisted to the platform and related some of the experiences of hiß drinking days, finally transforming himself into a red - guernseye'd Salvationist by pullifig- off the ragged clothes which he wore over bis uniform. Major Veal moved a resolution to the effeat that the drink trade was bad, and should be entirely suppressed. This was seconded by Captain TiJbrook, and carried unanimously by the audience rising en masse. Colonel Bailey, in a few remarks relative to the position of the Salvation Army in relation to politics and prohibition, said that while they kept clear of politics they believed that prohibition was a part of religion, ami not politics, and then called on the Key F. W. laitt -to speak. Mr leiit considered that the Government had not given fair play on the drink question, as it was not re illy a question of politics. He criticised the Government Bill at some length. They did not want to regulate the traffic, but to Btop it; He condemned the clauee giving the publicans a three years' tenure, and also that relating to the three* fifths majority: and the number of votes polled. He then moved a resolution, asking the Legislative Council " to exercise ita power to prevent the hasty and illconsidered legislation by which the interests of the people have been subordinated by the liquor-traffic, and to refer the whole question to the people." This was seconded by Mr T. Taylor, who condemned the Government legislation. He said an attempt bad been made to bribe an intending candidate for one of the Christchurch seats to drop the licensing question. The motion was carried -unanimously, and the meeting closed by the singing of the Doxology,.