The Prohibition Question

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 58, 6 September 1893, Page 2

The Prohibition Question

The Rev. E. Walker, of the New Zea« land Alliance, addressed a well attended meeting in the Foresters' Hall last night. Mr Burrows presided and briefly introduced Mr Walker to those present. The reverend gentleman said that dur. ing this session, no less than seven Bills dealing with the liquor traffic had been brought before the House. Two by Mr Fisher, one which treated upon the reform of tied houses, and the other to prevent the sale of alcohol to children. The next was Mr McGuire's Bill to prohibit the importation and manufacturing of alcoholic liquors in any shape or form, was a very good Bill, but was some years before its time. Mr Earnshaw's Bill was a modification of the Gottenberg system, and had been wittily termed by Sir Wilfred Lawson, the Bottenberg system. In fact, there was scarcely a method which had not been tried in various parts of the world, of dealing with this question. In Belgium they had practically free trade in liquor, the same as in everything else, and what was the consequence ? "Why, drunkenness was more rife there, than in any country in the worJd. Two Bills were introduced by Sir Robert Stout :— The Direct Veto Bill, which was defeated by the New Zealand Alliance, and the Licensing Act Amend* nient Bill, was killed by the Government, who then brought forward the present measure, which demanded their attention this evening. The Alliance affirmed that the time had now arrived when every adult should have the right to vote upon this question. All that their party demanded, was that the majority of the people should rule in this matter. The principle of the Government Bill in stipulating for a three-fifths majority of the votes polled, is wrong, and practically kills the Bill in respect to any good likely to be effected. One good feature however in the Bill is that it does not allow the trade to expand, so far that is a step in the right direction. If the Government, when a general election is on, would take a vote upon the question in the way which the Alliance propose, then they would be able to get at the real opinion of the people upon this subject. The licensing districts, as proposed in the Bill, are most unwieldy and awkward to work. What is needed is this ? An amendment of the Representation Act. The main issue at next general election will be to do away with this Bill, and then obtain an Act in favor of a more satisfactory measure which would give the people genuine direct control. Some individuals say they will never live to see prohibition in New Zealand, then he (the speaker) feared they would not live long. The speaker then alluded to the working of prohibition in the United States, and said that there were about 10,000,000 people living practically under its advantages, as seven States now had obsolute prohibition, and twenty-five other States were under the system of local option. Cavillers said that prohibition was not an unqualified success in America, but he retorted, have not English speaking races practically prohibitive laws which deal with crimes of various descriptions '? and yet because cases of murder, etc., sometimes occur, therefore they must say that the whole law dealing with such crimes is useless and inoperative, because frequent instances of its violation happen. Statistics prove that not only in small towns but large cities the feeling of the masses on this question of prohibition is growing in favor of it in that country. In Canada, prohibition is making vast strides, in which a million and a half people recently signed a petition to the Government praying them to grant prohibition throughout the length and breadth of the land. In India, a similar movement is forging rapidly ahead, the Mahomedans in that country are strictly opposed to alcohol in any shape or form, as are also the high caste Hindoos. Is it surprising that in this country the people are clamouring for the control of this traffic, and prohibition is certain to become an accomplished fact, and that not in the very distant future. The speaker resumed his seat amidst loud applause. The following resolution proposed by Mr Shearer, seconded by Mr Bowater, "That this meeting earnestly protests against the passage of the 'Alcoholic Liquor Sale Control Bill,' as utterly failing to confer upon the people effective direct control of the liquor traffic, and appeals to the Legislative Council to reject the measure," was carried unanimously. Votes of thanks to (he Chairm.su, fcht

Key. E. Walker, the good Templera for the use of the Hall, and to the choir, closed the proceedings.