TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1377, 11 February 1905, Page 2

TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.

(Per Press Association.) HOKITIKA, last night.

The West -Coast Temperance .Convention . opepe'd this morning, About forty delegates were presents The secretary’s report was to the effect that numerous aiul vigorous organisations were ait work throughout the. district, and there had. beep great development in temperance sentiment, Mr, Bedford, M.IJG.R., and the Rev. Dawson gave addresses. emphasising the necessity of activity. The following resolutions were carried : The Conference placed on record its pleasure that the Licensing Act of last session appears to sufficiently, safeguard the local option poll, and relieves the no-licenso p.arty from the necessity of becoming a political party, thus enabling it to concentrate ita energies on the achievement of the great reform of no-license,, free from the trammels and uncertainties of party politics ; that the Conference desires to call attention to the loose methpd of appointment of returning officers, an]d expressed a hope that the Executive of the Alliance will take such actiou as will secure greater care .in the appointment of unbiassed men as returning and deputy-returning officers. A paper on ■‘•‘' Ashburton Under •NoLicense,” by tho Rev. A. Peters, was read. The delegates continued sitting- this afternoon'. A second public meeting will be held to-night, and to-morrow a temperance picnic win be held at Laloo Kanieri,

A LITTLE DIVE E SION. Per Press Association^ Hokitika, last night. At the afternoon sitting of the West Coast Temperance Convention it was resolved to form a West Coast No-lieense Council, and hold a special convention at Greymouth in October. The Bev. W. J. Elliott was re-elected President. In the evening a public meeting was hold, when the Bovs. Trestrail and Dawson and Mr Bedford, M.H.K., delivered lengthy and very able addresses. Some diversion was caused by Mr Handle, a brewer, asking a number of questions and defending the attitude of the. trade.