MR LYSNAR’S CAMPAIGN.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 572, 17 November 1902, Page 3

MR LYSNAR’S CAMPAIGN.

Tho whole of tho soating accommodation was taxod to the utmost at the Wnoronga-a-hika schoolroom on Saturday ovoniog at Mr Lysnar’a mooting. Mr Loughor was voted to tho chair. At Mr Lysnar’s request, tho lvov. W. Thomson, of tho Scot's Church, Wellington, addressed tho meeting for half-an-hour. Ho dealt in an ablo manner with the moral aud religious aspect of tho Tomporauco quostion, and also spoko strongly against Prohibition and for remedial roforms, and couusollod those present to vote ugainst Prohibition. Mr Lysnar followed, making a stirring address against Prohibition, driving point after poiut into the minds of those prosent, showing Prohibition was wrong, both morally and financially, and strongly urged all who were sincere for reforms to join tho ltoform League. Ho assurod those present that he and others would do everything in their power to see the Leaguo did not die out after the election. It was being started with a sineero dosiro to do practical work. At tho conclusion of tho address, Mr Lysnar was asked, if Prohibition was a failure, how was it that certain States in America and the Clutha electorate have again and again voted for Prohibition, the latter piaeo with a larger majority each time. Mr Lysnar said it was not fair to make such a comparison with American States, for their Prohibition law was on a different basis to ours. In the socalled prohibited States in Amovica which had continued prohibition the law allows anybody to sell, hut if they do they arc fined a fixed fine every month iustoad of an aunual liconso. These saloon-keepers, as they are called, carry on business quite opeDly; this is tho safety-valve which

EuaK69 theso States satisfied to continue tho so-called prohibition. liegarding Baldutha, Mr Lysnar spoko strongly about the prohibitionists, and particularly Bov. Mr Paterson, who wrote to the Times saying tho hard-headed Scotchmen had again and again voted prohibition each tirno by a largo majority, Ho said tho rov. gentleman did not know what be was writing about, or was deliberately writing an untruth, for thcro had been three votes taken in Baldutha, tho first ono in 1594 Prohibition was carried then through a rearrangement of boundaries. Baldutha was called to vote out liconses again in 1808, but failed to secure the required majority. Then in 1899 tho prohibitionists, with tho aid- of the publicans, carried prohibition proper for the first time, but with only seven votos to spare over tho tbroe-fifths majority, so it was utterly wrong for tho prohibitionists to quote Baldutha in the manner they were aging*

Upon tho motion of Mr Dinan, seconded by Mr Turnbull, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Lysnar for his address. The usual vote to the chair terminated the meeting.