NO-LICENSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2313, 5 October 1908, Page 2

NO-LICENSE.

THE REV. R. B. S. HAMMOND’S VISIT.

ADDRESS IN THE THEATRE. The Rev. R. B. S. Hammond, who has been engaged by the New. Zealand Alliance to conduct a series of temperance lectures, delivered an address in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. The Rev. L. Dawson Thomas occupied the chair, and tlio building was crowded to excess, . extra forms having to he brought in to provide sitting accommodation. The lecturer, who, on rising to’ speak, was greeted- with applause, said that the speakers for, and champions of, no-license, invited. investigation, and were quite convinced that they only needed hearers of the arguments to make converts, and a few more converts to close the open liars. It should he remembered that the opr nonts of no-license were the brewers, publicans, and persons whose fin iiicial interests were in the liquor trade, and it was the greed for gold that prompted these people to strive to keep tho liquor trade alive. He numbered a few ex-publicans amongst his friends, and knew that there were many people in the liquor trade that were infinitely better than tlieir business, and recent events in Gisborne had shown that there were persons in the liquor trade that had no right to be in it. It was possible to put a hotel under new mangement, but whether the management was new or old, there was still the same old beer. ' The only argument for tlie drink trade was that there was money in it. People who put gold before character wore people he would fight as long as ho had breath. The overwhelming failure of license compelled them to give no-license a trial, for it could not he worse than license. The liquor trade told thorn there was not a no-license district in New Zealand that did not have its liquor supply, but there was not a law upon the Statute Book that had not been broken, and the law of no-license had not been brokon any more frequently than other laws. Norlicense was going to be carried by the efforts and sympathy of people who could see daylight on the question, if only the people would go to the poll. It made a wonderful difference when everybody d d a little bit towards , the cause, and if everybody struck out the top line no-license would be carried in Gisborne. '

On account of tho day being Sunday, no questions were allow-ed. Mr. Hammond delivered an openair address from the Trafalgar Rotunda during the afternoon. There was a large crowd present, and the speaker w-as frequently applauded. The rev. gentleman also took the service at Holy Trinity Church in tho evening.

Mr. Hammond will speak in the open air at the Sievwriglit memorial to-day -at noon, and this evening, when questions will be allowed.