N.Z. ALLIANCE CONVENTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1779, 18 June 1913, Page 8

N.Z. ALLIANCE CONVENTION.

NEW FIGHT ORGANISING. (By Telegraph.—Press Aesooiat-ion.) Chrlstchurch, Juno 17. A largo gathering of delegates, representing every electorate in New Zealand, met in tie hall of tho Y.M.C.A. this morning, when tho annual convention ot the New Zealand Alliance wag opened. Mr. Wesley Spragg occupied the chair. The delegates were welcomed by the Mayor (Mr. H. Holland), who expressed his appreciation 'of the spirit and purpose of tho movement. , In his- address, the president declared that this was the most important convention in tho history-of the movement. Tho party had to concentrate its efforts on the settlement of the majority issue, and it should not turn back until that question had been settled. No other movement, however it might appeal to th-em, should bo allowed to turn them from the work which they had in hand. •V resolution was carried, expressing the sympathy of the convention with those workers who wore absent by reason ot sickness special reference being made to the Rev. P. W. Isitt, the secretary. The Rev. J. Dawson read the annual report of the Alliance. It referred to matters of interest to the Alliance that had come before Parliament last session. During the year a "democratic vote campaign had l>eon launched, members of the party heing asked to sign a pledge that, regardless of political party, they would vote for no candidate who would not undertake to support reduction or tho abolition of the handicap involved in the majoritj provision in the present licensing balance-sheet showed that tho income of the Alliance had been .£703 from subscriptions, from donations, and ;£159 from other sources. JTlvj expenditure had -been XIG in excess. Of the income. '