BAPTIST CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 15, 12 October 1918, Page 8

BAPTIST CONFERENCE

LIQUOR TRADE SPEECHES ON PROHIBITION The second session of the Baptist Union Conference was held yesterday, the Rev. J. K. Archer (president) was in the chair. The Rev. W. S. Rollings read tho report of tho students' committee, which stated that four students were on military service, one student (Mr. K. Chard) had completed his college course, and was Vecommended for full ministerial recognition'. Two students wore continuing their studies at Knox College. Dunedih. Two home mission-' sine's (Pastor H. K. Kdridge, of Hastings, and Mr. J. Carlisle, of Gisborne) wero recommended for full ministerial recognition. In the evening a public meeting was held, Mr. J. H. Barker presiding, when Mr. D. Bayley. .of Canada, and Rev. R. S. Gray snoke on "Prohibition and Christian Patriotism." The Liquor Traffic. The chairman, in a . brief speech, referred to the great work clone by the late T. E. Taylor and Frank I.sitt.. Looking back, he thought that the latter stood out as a hero of the. great fight. _ They knew what the business men in New Zealand were doing to carry prohibition. It was'stated that some of the business men were in' it for what they could get out of it. That was a lie. He thought they wero nearing victory because the business men were with them—the Christian business men. They were going in to win.

Mr. W. D. Bayley, who was received with .applause, said it had been complained that, a foreigner, that is, a. Canadian, had "butt in" in New Zealand local affairs, but the reception lie had received here indicated that the people did not agree with this. He was satisfied that the people of Now Zealand were agreed that it was quite right for a- Canadian to "butt in" on this Prohibition question. "The m? uor trat ' e things along imperial lines. They found that an in Canada, for when they were fighting for Prohibition, money came across from Britain to support the campaign for the Liquor Party. "Wo are at an empire struggle with an internal Empire l Him —tho liquor {rafle. Prohibition is necessary for us, for every party, because a peoplo that is not efficient cannot make progress. Reconstruction after the war must have for its basis a sober democracy. We must have n sober democracy if wo wish to have a great empire. The liquor trade has been trying to tell the world that labour would not stand for, Prohibition. The first temperance societies were formed, among the trade unions, because the labour leaders found that they could not get along with drunken members. Gonipers, the Labour leader of America, lias declared that the labour unions must be divorced from the liquor -saloons. From 'the standpoint of tho Empire and tho reconstruction to follow the war, it is necessary to do without liouor. ■ In Canada they had not found any trouble with regard to the fall of 'revenue. During the first few months of Prohibition in Canada several gaols were' closed, but that did not embarrass the Finance Minister." He then related tho effects of Prohibition in Canada to show that tho cry of decreased revenue was a pure fallacy. ; "When Prohibition comes all the evil prophecies will be found to have been mere bogeys. New Zealand is tho point of attack just now." He urged them to stand to- I gother and fight to win, for their victory would have a wonderful influence on tho Prohibition question in Australia. He urged them to view the question, from the Empire point and fight to win.

The Rev. R, S. Gray snkl that tlie men who had come from Canada hail proved a great investment. Not lecanso they were phenomenal men, but because they have come from a phenomenal country at a nhenomenal time. Canada had realised some practical benefit from the war while we were obsessed with its calamities. If there' were no otter gains from the war if the liquor trade were killed throughout the world the war might have been worth while. If they could measure the.crimo, poverty, and disease that had. come |in the wake of this one curse they would shudder. ' This fight was following tiro course it followed in Canada. It centred round the Church and then it reached out among business men, and when it became an economic question the liauor trade was doomed. The business men in New Zealand are not wholly moved by economic reasons. ,but they are passionately fond of their country. Many of ■them like their whisky, but they lovo their _ country more. That was why tho > liquor trade was doomed. "The business men are with us, 'they aro with us to the end."