"SERIOUS CONSIDERATION."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1276, 3 November 1911, Page 6

"SERIOUS CONSIDERATION."

liberal-aiinded clergy.

ANCrjCANS OX THE QUESTION. Quite a number of clergymen of the higher typo are steadfastly opposed to tho prohibition of the licensed trade in alcoholic liquors. Truly they deplore the evils that result from ovcr-indulgenco in alcoholic beverages, and the licensed victuallers are as sensitive about the abuso of their commodities as the vendors of firearms, razors, etc., aro when their customers do themselves bodily harm by thr*ir use. Moderate laymen and women, who tisy liquor wisely, and to their comfort and enjoyment, are as serious-minded upon this question as tho higher type of clergyman, but they all cannot conscientiously regard the proposal to slop the sale and manufacture of beer and whisky as the solution of tho question. Indeed, in their hearts they know that tho policy of negation on one hand and force on the other arc at once intolerable in a free community of men and women who lovo liberty and possess seh'-control. Now, we wotild say from his utterances the other daj that Bishop Crossley is a clergyman of tho higher type, and he sees the folly of the prohibition movement inasmuch as it would abolish the law of restraint and regulation for a system of lawlessness under the reign of prohibition. If the present licensing law is abolished what is'going to tako its place? That i?T,7 h<: .I" 061 ' 011 - The prohibitionists say, no do not want anything to take its place. Wo are going to stop the salo oi liquor and thereby inaugurato a reign ot total abstinence by law. We will niako it punishable by a fine of .£IOO for men to make or trade in liquor, and wo will put those who do so in gaol if they violate tills law. We arc going to set up prohibition as a euro for one vice, and we will set up prohibition of all cornmodifies, tho misuse oi which would lead to viciousness. We wilt, in short, do away with every means that man possesses, either inherited or invented, which if misused would lead to evil; and it docs not matter to us that the use of these powers of man aro in legitimate use beneficial to themselves and tho world at large." This Is tho creed of the prohibitionist. 'This is the ideal ho wants attained. To accomplish this he will endeavour at election day to set up a reign of prohibition terror in New Zealand.

_ Tho clergymen attending the Anglican Synod at Auckland saw and understood the serious situation that has arisen in this country over tho liquor question. The liev. Mr. ; Watson, with all good intention, 110' doubt, was inclined to lead the Anglican Church over to the prohibition camp; but tho sage fathers of tho Church saw farther, and allowed Mr. Watson's motion to merely call attention to the "serious character" of tho question before the Church and its adherents. Hero we have, they said, in effect, tho licensing system clean and well managed; the people living in liberty under the law; the rights and privileges of the Church itself uninvaded, hud Clio Gospd having free course among tho people for their betterment by its moral suasion. On the other hand, if we give in our adherence to the prohibition causo we will help to de>troy a respectable, legitimate business under license and create an illicit and degrading traffic 111 sly grog-selling. Eut if prohibition does not institute such a deplorable state of affairs, and the vicc of drunkenness is entirely abolished and the virtue of temperanco is established by law, where does this lead us to? li ona virtue can be imposed upon the psoplo by the power of the law and the polio.-, where is tho need for the clergy and the power of the Gospel over men's hearts and lives? And so tho wise men of tho Anglican Church saw, as tho Americans say, that "they were up against it," ami paused.

The logic of their reasoning is unassailable. They saw tho seriousness of the position. Like tho lay men and women, they would lead, they are now seeing eye to oyo on the question with Bishop Crossley, and they will doubtless, as wo hope tho vast majority will, determine, by striking out the bottom linos on both ballot papers, to retain a system they know that is under State control than to attempt to forco total abstinence upon tho temperate, that is, tho moderate, a condition that would bo intolerable to them, nnd in time ranlcly iniquitous, as the ri> suits of prohibition havo proved wherever it has been tried. To paraphrase tho Scripture, tho Anglican clergy practically resolved: Bettor have tho thing we know than let m seven evils, "conoornin" tho enormities of which wo'havo no knowledge.

His Worship the Mayor notified councillors last n.gbt that tho Finance and Property Committee had had More them a p an prepared by the citv engineer of the proposed Recreation Reserve ,1 m,- S i ' Nairn Street and Ohiro Road, as asked for bv a reis obtained. Tho engineer's estimate of the cost is .£13,805. 0

wS"i»slsi T P X3\;." n?n P ' C<i 0^ hC , Cit7 pOMril forVIS rvndcr of the leaso of Sections 11>; itn and Hi Lambton reclaimed land. 'This itwj granted last night, and a new will be givrn on the following condiThe term shall be for the balanco of the unexpired term of tho present lease; (.) the present rental of Xfw shall be increased to «£!>00 per amr"° W I<aro f° Utain « <™Mnt for granting renewals n perpetuity of ground rent valuation for periods of fourteen years, and to eontain the same covemnnts. condition' ami provisions (mutahs l«isos mutand'is) as are contained in tho To Ar.< Rn. imntimi now granted bv the corpora Lion, with a covenant to. bmld within IS months from .he expiration of tho surrendered term viz., July 1, 1012; (4) tho surrender an<i new tase to take efT<?ct from ,) a , U](iry i 1912; (5) a covenant to l>o insertvd as advised by the city solicitor, to kerp' the hotel license on the premises.

The City Council last night accented the tender of Messrs. Brjscos and Co for fittings and appliances to bo used at the Fell Road reservoir.

The Colonial Sugar Refining Co. has this day advanced tho price of all grades of sugar ton shillings per ton.

The Auckland City Council has decided to make an experiment with Tavonaki oil, to lay the dust which causes groat ineonvenionce in the city during summer months.—l'ross Association,