THE LICENSING ISSUE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 173, 16 April 1919, Page 6

THE LICENSING ISSUE

CONSIDERED BY NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE. At the meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Alliance held on Saturday the following resolution concerning the poll was carried:— "That this meeting expresses gratification at the magnificent vote polled in New Zealand against the liquor traffic on Thursday last, regrets that at the final count tho present result is likely to be reversed, and resolves that from the moment when tho result is certain the party be' urged to renew the fight with greater enemy than before in order that a campaign in which we shall no longer be embarrassed by the compensation handicap may be carried to certain victory." It was decided also to express deep appreciation of tho public-spirited action of tho Hanover Street Baptist Church in releasing its minister, tho Rev. R. S. Gray, to act as Dominion organiser for tho recent campaign, and of similar service by the Grange Road Baptist Chinch in releasing its minister, the Rev. W. 11. Hinton. to act as organiser for the Wellington area. It was decided to assure these churches that their generous action was a most important factor in securing the heavv vote which was cast | for prohibition.

A communication was received from the Anti-Saloon League of America and the Dominion Alliance of Canada, notifying the holding of a (treat National and International Convention in Washington and Toronto at the end of May. It was expected filial five hundred delegates would attend from all over the world, more than one hundred of them being expected to come from the various parts of the British Umpire. The purpose of the convention is to take steps to make the world "dry." A very pressing invitntion was oxteuded to the Rev. John Dawson to represent New Zealand, and the executive decided that he be granted leave of Absence, assured him of its warm appreciation of his invaluable services, and its confidence in him as a fitting reuresentntive of the Dominion. Mr. Dawson will leave by the Niagara and return at the end of July, and will make nersonal inquiry into the working of prohibition in several of the "dry" States. Mr. George 11. Wilson, of Auckland, Dominion treasurer of the National Efficiency League, has also been appointed to represent New Zealand.