FOR PROHIBITION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 525, 30 November 1928, Page 13

FOR PROHIBITION

; ASSEMBLY’S SUGGESTIONS TEMPERANCE DEBATE FINISHED For the cause of Prohibition, the Presbyterian General Assembly decided to-day to recommend the New | Zealand Alliance to consider tlie advisj ability of restoring local option. It also commended a system of scientific temperance instruction in the youth department. The temperance debate was continued, the Rev. A. S. Morrison saying that he had been asked to suggest that the licensing committee elections should be contested. The Alliance, he thought, was earnest and wise, although it had made mistakes in meeting the “moral slump in the community.” Mr. J. S. Fair gray (Dunedin) said, “Without the Alliance very little would have been done in New Zealand in the cause of temperance. I appeal to you to do your utmost for tlie Alliance and not criticise it.” Mr. James Aitken (Wanganui) said the apathy of the public made it futile to attempt to get seats on the licensing committees. “Unless we go about the task in a different way we will not stop the receding tide of temperance,” said the Rev. W. L. March (Devonport). In his own Bible he said, there had been hostility toward ’Prohibition. If the people concentrated on the electoral side, temperance was going to lose continually. A bigger idea of the job was necessary, and the young folk had to be given hard, intensive training. In his opinion a big and long fight was before them. It was decided to reappoint the convenor of the Temperance Committee as representative of the Church on the executive of the Alliance, after an amendment against this had been lost. Dr. K. X. Merrington said that all kinds of juvenile societies, including tho Band of Hope should be encouraged. “Tlie Alliance is reconstructing the whole position and it is face to faee j with it,” said the Rev. W. J. Comrie. “The executive will meet early next month and the position will be considered with the utmost care. It is determined that education will stand in the first place. LEAGUE OF NATIONS Assembly passed the foUowing resolution about the League of Nations: “Assembly rejoices that tlie League continues its beneficent services to tlie world and is manifestly growing in influence and prestige, and while regretting that the League is still far from having accomplished its chief object cf securing tlie pari passu disarmament of the nations, is thankful that the steadfastness with which it seeks a solution of this problem encourages the hope, that it will ultimately succeed; the Assembly is further glad to learn that the New Zealand League of Nations Union is taking a firmer hold of the minds of the people, desires ministers to do what may be in their Power to strengthen the union and to inform their people of the indispensableness of the League to the peace of the world, appoints the first Sunday of September as League Sunday, requests ministers to make use of it to further the interests of the League and to remind the people of their obligation ms servants ot Christ to bestir themselves actively in the cause of world peace. v