LICENSING POLL

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1928, Page 6

LICENSING POLL

PRESBYTERIAN S’ CON KEREN CE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

AUCKLAND, November 29

“ This Committee emphatically asserts that -the defeat of the Licensing Bill is further evidence of the power of the liquor trade over the political machine, and would urge our people to continue to demand that the people he permitted to democratic principles.” The foregoing was a clause in the report of the Temperance Committee. submitted to the Presbyterian Assembly. The Rev. J. H. MacKenzie expressed sorrow and disappointment that they ahd had so little progress, if any. at the last poll. Several speakers expressed the opinion that a great mistake' had been made in dropping the local option method. The Rev. MacKenzie moved a resolution suggesting that each Presbytery should appoint a temperance committee; recommending the appointment of Bands of Hope, ancf' advising the reappointment of the convenor off the Temperance Committee a representative of the Presbyterian Church on the Executive of the New Zealand Alliance. Gibb, oR, .Wellington,., mqvf.d that; -om’'resolution The to.by. suggesting to the Alliance that it should-endeavour to secure restoration of the principle of local option. “I believe,” he said “that if we had held on to local option, we should by now have New Zealand dry.” The Rev. J. Aitken (Wanagnui) deplored the drinking among young people. It was a matter of common knowledge that some young people were drinking to a great extent. “ A groat many of our young women are taking cocktails, and other kinds of liquor,” he said, “ along with the cocktail goes the cigarettes.” The Rev. Aitken appealed to .Ministers to give up smoking for the sake of boys and girls. Several speakers criticised the policy of the Alliance and an'amendment was moved, deleting the. proposal to reappoint the Convenor of'Temperance Committee as representative on t?io Alliance. . ; , ' ' • ? The debate was adjourned.