New Zealand Alliance.

Manawatu Herald, 12 July 1894, Page 3

New Zealand Alliance.

The agent of the N.Z. Alliance, the .Rev. E. Walker, addressed a public meeting on Tuesday evening in the Primitive Methodist Church. The Rev. F. W. Boys took the chair, «£d introduced the lecturer in an appropriate speech. Mr Walker spoke oi the gratifying progress the movement for the prohibition of the liquor traffic had made during the last? twelve months. The question, he said, was very much in evidence during the last session of the late Parliament, when not less than seven bills were introduced dealing with the different phases of the liquor question, of which the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill became law. Notwithstanding much that was objectionable in that measure it was questionable whether anything better could have been got from the late House, in which the liquor interest was so strongly represented. But at the late general election these sponsors of the liquor trade were almost all of them refused the suffrages of the peoples. There was no excuse, therefore, if the present House did not enact satisfactory legislation. The hold the prohibition sentiment was taking of the public mind was illustrated at the recent Local Option polls. Putting together all the lioensing districts in Otago and Southland, the voting OV6.V that whole area gave a majority ,of more than 3000 for no license over all the votes polled for both continuance and reduction. Adding tJanterbury to Otago and Southland, there was still a majority of over ££00-. The polling over the whole of the colony resulted in 41,000 votes for continuance of licenses, 15,000 for reduction, and 48,000 for no license. These facts must necessarily influence the legislature. The Temprance party were demanding that the voting should be simplified and should cover both local and colonial prohibition in some such form as the following :— . (Ji)* Do you favour the proposal that jhj9, sale of liquor be prohibited in .your district? Yes— No. (2) Do you favour the proposal that the sale x&liquor be prohibited throughout the- Colony? Yes — No. Beside this principal item in temperance reform, a certain measure of prohibition might at once be immediately effected by statute ; for example, pro-hibition--of the tale of liquor in native [districts where the sale is simply a means of demoralising and exterminating our splendid native race. Then there were certain other forms of the tiaffic which might with great jjublic_ advantage and wide public approval be at once suppressed ; such as N.Z. Wine lioenses, of which only 7 exist ; Bottle licenses, which are lawful only in Otago, Westland, Nelson, and Marlborough ; conditional licenses, by which liquor

selling becomes a nuisance at shows and public sports ; licenses at railway stations, which menace the public safety and endanger the com fort of passengers ; and licenses granted to the small steampackets which trade in the rivers and harbours of the northern portions of this island, and do much illicit business under cover of the license. Some of their friends were looking forward very hopefully to the prospect of the new century, six yearg hence, commencing with colonial prohibition. The lecturer discussed other aspects of the liquor question, and at the close of his address answered a number of questions. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded by acclamation to Mr Walker who was in very good form and carried conviction to the minds of a large majority at any rale of his audience.