NO LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1393, 2 March 1905, Page 2

NO LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

LECTURE BY C. H. POOLE. “ AGITATION— ITS PLACE ON REFORM;’’ Despite the inclemenoy of the weather last evening there was a large attendance at the Theatre Royal when Mr Charles H. Poole opened his no license campaign with an interesting leoture on " Agitation—its place on Reform.” The ReV J. G. Paterson occupied the chair and briefly introduced the lecturer. Poole plunged into the heart of his subject from the commencement and kept: his hearers deeply interested The speaker had a thorough knowledge ofj bis subject, and his lecture was full of ihSerest. Hois one of the most ablß and eloquent speakers on temperance reform that has ever spoken here. He graphically portrayed the part that agitation must play in social and moral reform, and pointed his remarks with anecdotes both humorous and pathetic. Reform, he said, of what ever kind, must be achieved by the blood of those who had fought for that cause. And amongst those who had fought for the temperance reform was sainted Canon Webb. Were Alexander the Great alive to-day he would have no reason ;to blubber because there were no more worlds to conquer. He could step into the arena and take his stand in the battle against the worst evil ever organised °y human nature. , Reformers must be 1 agitators, for agitation played a prominent part in all matters of stake. The utmost cowardice was shown by many, through fear of society or commercial loss.in facing their duty to put down the sadly nefarious traffic which was Ojpßgised in the colony. They wanted the laiS&rice of a few mare folk to win their victory, and the question was how to get them. They might bring great speakers, but he thought the great 1 work of the future would be achieved by working shoulder to shoulder. If each of them made up their minds to win two votes they would have a dry Gisborne on November without fail. They would have o agitate for money. Tho brewers had an nterest in keeping the saloons open, and , hero were many good men, whoso eyes ?ere not yet opened, who thought it well D stand in with the brewers. The Temerance Reform League had been used as sd herring across the scent, and had indeed many to vote against no-license, ut it had not been meant to live. Tho affic could not be kept in order, and they ould have to agitate abolition. For the ke of their fathers and mothers, and o;e dear to them, and the political recide of the future, they must clear the loons out and steer for virtue. The lecre _ concluded with an appeal to his arers to prevent the onward march of s modern Juggernaut, fha lecture to-night will bo on the subt, “ War 1 Mobilize 1 ”