AUSTRALIAN LICENSING MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 849, 7 June 1910, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN LICENSING MATTERS.

Sydney, June 6. Speaking to a motion before the Anglican Synod at Newcastle to support No-License at the next election, the Right Rev Dr Stretch, Bishop of Newcastle, expressed the hope that the Synod would not support No-License, The Synod, he contended, was not a political body, and for any such body to say it would support and vote for a man on this ground only was a degrading doctrine that was really sectarianism. His Grace said he thought local option was the worst thing ever introduced, and he regarded the action of the Legislature in referring to the people the Question of No-license by means of Local Option a piece of cowardice, false to the root principles of Democracy. “ In this State,” he said, “ you can have your license if you build a house costing seven or eight thousand pounds, but we can shut it down at the year’s end, however well you conduct it.” This was, His Lordship concluded, an elaborate and disgusting swindle, and it would knock morality out of the trade. The motion was rejected.

Adelaide, June 6

Mr John Verran, (.the new South Australian Premier, and formerly Leader of the Labour Party) in a speech at the Rechabite Jubilee, said : “ God is not going to see the principles of society dropped by a few dirty beer barrels, and he, as Premier, was there to defend those principles. While he held the position of Premier no man need expect any sympathy when he came to him about the drink traffic. He was only concerned to defend Righteousness, Truth, and Justice.