BISHOP CROSSLEY ON PROHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1265, 21 October 1911, Page 4

BISHOP CROSSLEY ON PROHIBITION.

"I WILL NOT BE PRECIPITATED."

In his first address to tho Anglican Synod r4 the Dioceso of Auckland, Bishop Crosslcy mad® a brief reference to the prohibition question. He said:— "I am sensitive on tho subject of_ liberty. The notable reaction in tho Stato of Maine, generally quoted as tho ideal prohibition Stato, on the subject of prohibition you have all recently observed. I have talked with ninny men on this subject, and read, so far as 1 could, both sififes, and so far as I have gono I am unconvinced. The dangers lo national character are subtle, and, I think, are real. lam not deterred from this, my personal state of mind, by tho cheap retort that the dangers c-f drunkenness ara still more real. I ;im deeply sensiblo to thoso dangers, and quite ready to mako even a bi" experiment to avert them. I acknowledge with sadness the fact—of course, it may be accidental—that I liavo seen more drunkou persons in New Zealand sinco I came than I saw in all my :-ix years in Melbourne. At the <jm« time I will not bo precipitated into a line of action, tho ultinialo wisdom of which I ain as yet unconvincod of. I have not observed in New Zealand any oonstxuetivo policy like that of the British Public Hou» Company, llavc wo really exhausted our remedies yet?"