MRS BARTON’S ADDRESS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1055, 12 October 1911, Page 3

MRS BARTON’S ADDRESS.

Mrs Barton, of Glasgow, who is touring the Dominion in the interests of the No-License and National Piohibitiou campaign, delivered a stirring address in the Masonic Hall last night, to a fair and apnreciative audience. Owing to the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, Mr Horublow presided, Tne lecturer, who has a pleasing manner and distinct Scotch accent and splendid delivery, spoke very convincingly on various phases ot this great reform question. She indignantly refuted the statement that she was a paid lecturer. She came to New Zealand from Australia at the invitation of the New Zealand Alliance and. the only remuneration she received was her bare travelling expenses, which did not include her fare to and from Scotland. She mentioned the names of others engaged in this work at present in New Zealand who did not receive nor would they accept one penny piece for their services. Their desire was to uplift humanity. Mrs Barton gave her hearers a vivid account of the wretchedness and poverty of Glasgow directly attributed to drink and said that the same thing was happening in this fair young laud. She contrasted the improvement and prosperity of the No-License districts with those places where license obtained. She refuted the trade arguments against Prohibition and dealt very convincingly with local taxation, revenue, crime, and the liberty of the subject. She quoted official figures proving that where No-License obtained, taxes had been reduced and prosperity had increased. Our gaols, asylums, and orphanages were filled with inmates, a great proportion of whom were there through indulgence in alcohol. She had once seen a man drunk in a gutter and he was singing “ Britons never shall be slaves.” Yet, was it not a fact that thousands upon thousands of the nation's best manhood and womanhood were enslaved to the drink evil? She n-ged them to make iqi x .... Zealand's year of

emancipation from ihe drink trade. It, after a trial o. nitionrl prohibition they found that it was not a success, she would came back to New Zealand and assist them to get back license. Her speech was punctuated with applause, and her native humour and appropriate anecdotes were very telling. At the conclusion no questions were asked and the speaker was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks, which she suitably acknowledged, and urged her hearers to strike out the top line ou both ballot papers at the coming poll. The usual compliment to the chair terminated the meeting.