MR POOLE’S ADDRESS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 955, 16 February 1911, Page 3

MR POOLE’S ADDRESS.

The first shut in the local NoLicense and Dominion Prohibition campaign was fired in this electorate last night by the New Zealand Alliance, when Mr C. 11. Poole M.P., delivered a stirring address in the Masonic Hall. The chair was occupied by Mr John Sanson, President of the Mauawatu No-License Council. Owing to counter attractions the meeting was only moderately attended. Mr Poole said the meetings he had addressed so far had been very inspiring. He was convinced that the liquor business was bad and referred to it as parasitic and nonproductive. Like other parasites it should be exterminated. The more one tried to improve the trade the worse it seemed to get. He made a strong appeal to tight the traffic by individual effort. He referred to the success which had been achieved by the Party in the past and greater victories could be achieved in the future. The liquor traffic was the greatest hindrance to the health problem. Alcohol was one of the most predisposing causes ol tuberculosis and cancer. Cultivating the taste lor light wines was no solution to the problem. Prance, Germany, and Russia, were raising their voices against the traffic. The saloons were selling poison for good cash. He referred to the suicides by taking lysol and said that an agitation was afoot to regulate the sale of this poison, yet for every one death altributabld to the taking of lysol, alcohol accounted lor a hundred and yet liquor reform was objected to. lie said the statement that the carrying of noliceuse meant an increase of crime was a “ liquor lie.” P'acts and figures in connection with our gaols and asylums proved the contrary. Liquor bars encouraged the people to drink beyond their means and tempted men who worked lik a horse to spend their cash like an ass. The Government was helping the workmen to purchase their own homes but the man who continued to spend money on drink not only helped to destroy the home, but he contributed lo tne most brulual and inhuman trade in the world. I t was said No-license destroyed homes, but he was prepared to say it was not so. There were children in Ciutha who never saw a drunken man. (Loud applause). Liquor was a child punisher, an agent of inefficiency in human lives, and a tax-raiser, it increased the numbers of those in hospitals, gaols, and mental asylums. Mr Poole devoted some time to the success of prohibition in America, showing it to mean prosperity all round. The drink bill was now very nearly four millions per annum, and the vain; ol exports in meat was ,£300,000 less. The speaker gave figures to show that lor a period of nine years one in every twenty ol the population was convicted of drunkenness. The speaker quoted statistics proving the success of No-license in Masterlon, and referred at length to the recent amended licensing legislation. On the motion of Mr McKenzie, seconded by Mr Glover, the speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.