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PROHIBITION

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY DEBATE STRONG VIEWS EXPRESSED At the meeting of the General Assembly yesterday, a report on temperance provoked a warm debate. The report stated:—“Once again the forces working against prohibition have been disappointed, and we have still to work on towards our goal. Energetic effort will be needed in the coming year to see that a Licensing Bill is not passed contrary to our de-

sires. The contents of the Hill introduced this last session by the Prime Minister came as a shock, so retrograde were many of its provisions, and though not likely to pass in its present form owing to the large body of members of Parliament pledged to the alliance .platform, it calls for vigilance and action on the part of all temperance workers. We must especially aim at the elimination of the middle issue, which is really a dishonest trick to prevent a real verdict of the pepole, and* has been shown decisively to have no real backing. We must see that there is no loophole opened for an increase of licenses, nor any extension of time between the polls. We would urge upon all our ministers and people to bring influence to bear on their local member. The Bill is a clear indication of the influence of the liquor traffic in the political world, and should, as such, be resisted by allprohibitionists or not—who realise the danger of such influence. This year between polls is a time for careful examination of bur methods of work. We have failed again to carrjj prohibition, and we need to see if we are working for it in the right way. Your committee is therefore asking the Assembly to go into this matter.” The Rev. J. Paterson (Wanganui) moved the adoption of the report. He said that the method of attack on the traffic would have to be altered, and the Assembly would be invited to lend its aid in carrying on a continuous campaign. The Rev. R. Evans (Hawera) brought forward a resolution of the Taranaki Presbvtcry in favour of the Assembly appointing its own representatives on the New Zealand Alliance. More people must be enlisted to fight the traffic, he said. To-day fewer ministers, and office-bearers, were assisting in the cause than ever before. A continuous educational effort was needed, rather than a mere spasmodic affair just before the poll (Hear, hear). The Rev. J. Milne (Thames) advanced the opinion that State Control in some form would yet come about in New Zealand. (No, no.) The Rev. L. Hunt (Mount Eden) blamed the temperance committee of the Chutch for not functioning It was, he said, apathetic, and there was intense dissatisfaction with its want of action. The battle had still to be won, but the Christian Churches could carry it if thev liked. (Applause.). He was sick of the tons of literature forwarded to him weekly. Every minister knew there was not a kick tn Ins church against the liquor traffic. Prohibition would not dawn until a live committee was set tip working with the present machinery. The beer soakers would never be altered - be would like to put them in a swimming bath of beer and let them drown (Hear, hear). Some sections of the Christian Church "liad not the courage o' n louse” in tackling the dunk traffic The solution of the problem was to obtain the support of the young, and

those coming of age. (Hear, hear.). A week before the last poll, liquor people had openly stated that prohibition could not be carried because the prohibitionists had not the voung people. “Last time the flapper vote turned the scale against us,” he said. “The liquor traffic has been offering free beer to the voung fellows in the Auckland football’ clubs to get them to vote against prohibition when the time comes. If prohibition is carried in New Zealand the battle will not be finally won for another five or 10 years. The eyes of the world would .be centred on New Zealand, and the real battle would commence. Every divorce case, every dog that died in the street —it would all be ascribed to prohibition.” The Rev. W. Mac Lean (Oatnaru) maintained that some of the previous speaker's assertions were unfounded, and might cause great offence to other denominations. He himself was a consistent supporter of prohibition, but did not preach it. He tried to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ, and did not

bail those opposed to urohibition as outcasts. The debate was adjourned

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19261112.2.6

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
754

PROHIBITION Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 3

PROHIBITION Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 3

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