Prohibition Council Meeting

Manawatu Herald, 30 May 1896, Page 2

Prohibition Council Meeting

The third annual meeting of delegates to the Prohibition Council for Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Tara* naki districts began its sessions in the Presbyterian Hall, Palmerston, on Monday afcernoon. There was a large attendance of delegates and this part of the district was represented by V. C. Ransom, M. Alderson, S. Knight, Rev. G. Harper, Mrs Harper, H. Sanson, C. H. Bowater, and J. Glover, Rongoiea ; Rtv. S Barnett, W. S. Stewart, Westwood, Walker, Fox ton ; Mrs Odtler, Mrs McHardie, J. Prouse, Silverton, Lfevin. The following resolutions were carried : — That this Council requests the Government to amend the Lictnsing Act so that the issue of Prohibition shall be decided on a bare majority of the votes polled. The motion was carried by 180 votes to 10. That this Council renew the demand of the Temperance party to be

allowed to vote on the question of colonial option at the nest Licensing Poll, and that a bare majority shall decide.

That this Council, recognising the large and growing snares in the cviii of the liquor traffic for which dritiking club 3 are responsible, derilatida that these clubs shall be placed on the same footing in regard to Sun - day observances, limitation of boars, police supervison and popular control, as public houses, and thai no new club charters be iseiled; That this Council expresses its ap« proval of the refusal by the Government of charters for Working Men's Clubs at Feilding, Hawera and elsewhere, and that a copy of this resolution ba seat to the Government.

(t) That this Council resolve that all publiohouse license fees should be paid to the public treasury initead of to local bodies. (2) That conditional licenses and packet licenced io steamers trading on rivers and With' in harbours be abolished; inasmuch as they are virtually ail iilcreafe of license?, and that the decisions o( licensing committees be final. That all proposals for -amendment of the law adopted or to be adopted by this Ceuncil at its present 868/ rdons be forwarded to Mr A. S. Adam*, of Dunedin, with the request that he will embody them in the Bill to be introduced in the coming session of Parliament.

On Tuesday those resolutions were agreed to ! — • That clause 33 of the Licensing A.ct, 1895, should be made applicable to districts already prohibited! Mr Theo. Walker read a short paper on the necessity for putting the Police Department undtr independent control, and the policemen being given a voice in the adminia-' tration of their own department. That whereas the disgraceful laxity in the administration of the liquor laws throughout the colony, against which this Council protested at Itß last meeting, .still continues, and as the Ashurst, Maaterton, Clutha, and many other cases show is a serious and increasing charge (to the State), this Council urges that the temperance party in the House of Representatives take steps to bring the matter before the House at its next session with a view to setting up a Royal commission to inquire into the whole administration of the force, and that the question of police re* form ba made a te3t question at the general election. That this Council is of opinion that much of the laxity in the police department arises from the disposing of cases by_ the Bench and the difficulty of securing conviction and that thi3 commission, when appointed, be specially desired to inquire into this phase of the question.

At the afternoon sitting, Mr V. C. Ransom was voted to the chair. Rev. T. J. Wills road a paper on " The Local Option Poll, 1896;" and moved, That this Council strongly recommends (1) The members of the Executive take immediate action to prepare for the approaching licensing poll by holding meetings ; by systematic distributioa of literature; by getting all sympathisers on the roll. (2) That the committee elections be contested in all districts that have carried reduction. (8) That tbe reduction vote be exeroised by all prohibitionists, Carried unanimously. . . . Sir Robart Stout, at the invitation of the meeting, addressed the Council on the questions of reduction, taxation, revenue, and the " liberty of the subject" as affected by the licensing reform movement. That this Council recommend the Executive to arrange a plan _of campaign in each electorate during the months of Jnly, August and September. That this Council urge upon all churches to have . the duty of the electors on the temperance question brought before every congregation on the Sunday preceding the election. — Standard. '"■