PROHIBITION ISSUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1925, Page 4

PROHIBITION ISSUE.

(. I.ERGVM AN'S ATTITUDE CRl’i ICISEI). Al t K LAND, December S. 'I here were a lew awkward moment at a meeting oi I lie Auckland Counci ol ( bl'istiaii Congregations hist, even fug. when a layman criticised the Re (;. Gordon Bell, vicar of tic Churel o| Ibi- Holy Sepulchre, for taking hi siiiml mi the. side of Stale Purchas and Control. This prompted Arch bishop Averill to say lie hoped ill Council of Christian Congregations wa it, ll Doing to be a narrow-minded body Hi- hoped llml every member would b allowed In express Ids mind in tin council. The position arose following an ad dress by Mr \V. !!. Tuck on tile recoil iiqilor poll and the lessons to be learn ed t roiii il. The community, he said would have to lie educated so as L

create a strong conviction ill favour ni prohibition in 11 ni public mind, anil tilt* Prohibition Party would probably have t" curry out an exhaustive pro-<i,i-iii»ime* ol' <‘illienfinn. A special conference would lie called early in tlie* now year to discuss 1 1 it* ]irolil<*in. The liev (•'. Cordon I’ell rose at the ciiiielusiini of the addles-, and said that a- one utterly and whole-heartedly op-po-ed to prohibition lie honed to have an opportunity of addressing the council at some future date and of placing he fore them what he considered would he a remedy for the present evils. He also hoped to speak on the evils of gambling, a subject which he had referred to with some emphasis at precious meetings. Ironical laughter and derisive cries greeted his remarks. A lavm.an from one of the congregations represented on the council then rose. and. staling that he eame into daily contact with working men and that his family had been occasioned much sorrow through liquor, alleged that one of the biggest .stumbling blocks to working men was the fact that some ministers ol the Church of Cod could take a stand against prohibition. It made the speaker shudder to think of a Christian minister going about hi- pastoral ministrations who had the impudence to stand tip ami defend the liquor traffic. thus failing in his duty to Almighty Cod. Mr Hell immediately rose to a point ol order, lie said he thought that in such a hotly as the Council of Christian Coiigregatfions a man should have the right to'express himself. No one had a right to accuse hint of impudence. or to charge him with failure to discharge his duty before Almighty (oxl. The chairman (Dr Henson) ignored Mr Hell’s ijoint of order, and

proceeded to put the motion ol than

to the meeting. *• Surely we are not going to be r lot of narrow-minded people,” said Archbishop Averill. ‘•Surely my friend here, or any other member, has the right to expres■; himself, and if my friend here thinks he has a better way I lor one should like to hear him. As you know, I have in the past been oil the side of prohibition, but 1 should like to hear what he has to say. 1 might possibly support him myself. Anyway, i should like to think that anyone can hold and express his own ideas here without being regarded- as—. well, f don’t know quite wlmt they think of him, and I should like to have the opportunity of speaking myself.” Dr Hairston said he supposed the executive would take notice of what his Grace had said. It was right. Dr Hairston thought, for the council to allow its members to express opinions.