An Argument Affirmative.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 29, 22 September 1911, Page 5

An Argument Affirmative.

On Sunday evening, March 12, 1911, at the Trades Hall, Dunedin, ait the usual weekly meeting conduct-, ed by the Socialist Party, Mr. G. 8., Nioholls, the organising secretary of the Dunedin No-license Council,. gave an address. The first part of his remarks " consisted of an outline of the reasons that had caused a section of,, the New South Wales workers to be.; driven to vote in the liquor camp, though they personally knew that alcoholic liquors were no good to the working man. A large part of the reason (said the speaker) was mismanagement of labor sentiment by the No-license Party in New South Wales, and the endeavour of the Wade Government to make political capital out of the fact that it was they who had. granted the local option law. "These reasons," said Mr. Nicholls, "do not exist in New Zealand; her© all the forces seer to tend to throw the Nolicense P -ty and the Labor forces' into the name camp, and it isi well that it is so, for they ought to be in the same camp. Capitalism and the capitalistic newspapers support the , drin ktrade against the people _ every time, and that is a sufficient indication that drinking tends to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. The second half of the address was devoted to showing the enormous profit made on the small amount of labor employed by the brewers as compared j with other trades. This, as promised at the time, was published in detail by Mr. Nicholls afterwards, and of the illustrations from the New Zealand Year Book are reproduced herewith. At the close of ■ the address there Was a generally favourably discussion, and Mr. Munro from the chair ' moved the attached resolution.; In moving it, he said: "This resolution if passed, does not bind the Socialist Party; it is merely the opinion of this meeting of workers." Mr. Gilchrist seconded the motion, which was: carried with but four or fivo dissentients. The motion, read as follows: —VThis meeting of Socialists and workers desire to affirm as their opinion • that there is no other trade so little deserving of sxipport by the workers as is the liqxior trade. gives the least share in wages of its immense .profits of any trade; it gives the buyer tho least value for his money, and it very often degrades the seller. Therefore, though we are aware that Prohibition does not touch the root of economic wrongs from which the workers now. suffer, it will yet bo of great advantage to all concerned, and is likely to result in-the next gen oration growing up without the alcoholic appetite and. without feeling that they have been deprived of anything. We are convinced that workers will do well to vote for Prohibition, and get the question settled." The "New Zealand Home Journal," published in Auckland, dated May 2, 1911, publishes an account of a meeting of the Auckland Social Democrats in that city. The report considered was prepared after full research by the, executive, and summed up strongly against the continuance of the liquor trade in any form. After four hours' debate, th<3 Social Democrats unanimously adopted the following deliverance:— (1) "That the total abolition of the liquor traffic by a bare majority vote, of the people be adopted as a plank in the national platform of the party." (2) ' 'That the party. calls upon every Social Democrat in the Dominion to assist in the fight against the liquor traffic until it is finally exterminated."

(See "In Our Opinion.'').'