NO-LICENSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2297, 16 September 1908, Page 3

NO-LICENSE.

MR. A. J. BLACK’S MISSION

Mr. A. J. Black, who .is visiting Gisbor.no in connection with the Nolicense movement, delivered ilus sco-. ond 1 address in His Majesty’s Theatre Inst evening. The building was crowded. The Her. AY. Grant occupied the chair, and the meeting opened by the singing of a hymn, Mrt. Black playing the accompaniment. Commencing his address, Mr. Black said he was pleased to see such ,i. large audience. He had a conviction that a great move for victory was coming over the country in favor of No-license, and he believed Gisborne would bo one of the first electorates to capitulate to tlio great movement. The No-license workers hud evidence that success was .near, and there was land ahead. Ho was grateful for the movement of the labor parties in their antagonism to strong drink. The labor parties were recognising that tin evil was among them that 'entered into their homes, leaving a trail of sorrow, and misery behind. He found here and there men willing to adopt the programme of State-control ;but State-control had been a total failure in Norway and Russia. North Carolina, after trying a system of liquor dispensing, had found it a failure, and the State went back to the old system. Regulating or modifying the curse wns ot no use. The only remedy was to end the evil, and the only hope was the total destruction of the traffic. Liquor and labor were diametrically opposed to each other. Throughout New Zealand there were movements, to save life from destruction, 'and a hotter and more humanitarian system of law was being passed by the people. Drink was . the greatest da tiger to human life in the Dominion, und a curse with which labor could have, no just alliance. The war against drink was a war for the safety of life and 1 home, and monetary considerations should be placed last. Lifo was at stake. In America. 10,018 people committed suicide last year, while .in the prohibited Statte of Maine only three people took their own lives, and Maine had the largest population' of any State in America. There was no business on earth so callous tip human, life as the liquor trade, for it set no value whatever oil human life. Mr. John Burns had said the enemy of the labor movement was drink, and that the tavern was the ante-chamber of the workhouse. Other noble men. also gave testimony of the damage of the curse. The shame of Britain for .years had been her drink curse. (Cries 1 of No!) He had regartl for the British l nation as a leader of nations, but as a Britisher he would' speak the truth and say that Britoin had awakened to the fact that unless her people became sober they would be left behind in the struggle for supremacy. There were a few people who said. that the working man. must have his liquor, and said the No-license movement desired to deprive a poor man of his beer. He would' say that no mail’s position or no mail’s labor was improved by his becoming a. drinker. He was pleased to learn that the U.S.S. Company was making strinlgenib regulations a gainst the' use of ■strong drink by their officers, for the country did not wish to again hoar jpf 200 human lives being sent to a. watery grave through a drunkard's carelessness. No pen could write the woes that were laid at the door df the liquor evil. The trade could: not claim to stand beside legitimate business or honorable industry. He had nothing to say against the persons in the trade, because lie knew many persons in the liquor business who were too good 1 for it. No sentiments for individuals should stop .any one from voting to crush the cursed traffic out of New Zealand. QUESTIONS, The Chairman 1 then announced that Mr. Black would answer questions. One old gentleman asked what was to become of all the temperance lecturers when their work was finished, and Mr. Black replied that he was in hopes of being able to get a job somewhere, In reply to other questions Mr. Black said that he was opposed to the liquor! traffic for economic reasons as well as for social reasons, and recognised that the trade wan a monopoly that should ho broken down. He ivae also in 'favor of the hare majority. The Rev. E. W. Chntterton moved that a vote of thanks he tendered to Mr. Black for his address, and the motion was carried with acclamation. OPEN-AIR ADDRESS. Mr. Black spoke on No-license nit noon yesterday from the steps of the Sievvright memorial. There was a large crowd, and the speaker was accorded a;n attentive hearing. During the address one speaker offered tto combat Mr .Black’s arguments and accepted an invitation to mount the steps and give his views;. Mr. Black then replied, and the crowd dispersed shortly after one o'clock. Mr. Black will, speak in the Theatric again this evening, and will deliver an open-air lecture ini the street on Saturday evening. On Sunday evening Mr.’ Black will conduct a Gospel temperance meeting in the Theatre.