PROHIBITION CONFERENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 382, 6 July 1889, Page 6

PROHIBITION CONFERENCE.

Auckland, July 2. The discussion upon the paper read by the Rev. James Chew upon "Has Prohibition Been a Failure ?" was resumed last night at Robson's Rooms, when there was a good attendance. Mr J. T. Garlick presided, and in his opening remarks explained thab the Gospel Temperance Mission, as a society, did not labour to place gentle- ' men on the Licensing Benches to regulate the liquor traffic. Neither did they, like the New Zealand Alliance, secure the election of gentlemen to Parliament ,to suppress or prohibit the liquor traffic. At the same time they pympathised with kindred institutions. He considered that dis- "'" ' cu&sions like the present would tend to educate the public in temperance work. Mr W. J. Macdermott read a contribution by Mr Charles Wilson to -the " Melbourne Alliance Record." His testimony * atter a visit to America was that the prohibitory laws were for all practical purposes a great success. Mr T. M. Humphreys discussed, t,he point from a legal aspect. He held that the State had a right to legislate in the interest of the community. He was thankful that one Licensing Committee had displayed moral courage by closing four hotels^ Jle hoped other committees would do likewise. Mr W. R. Cook said that in EnglamThe had seen the effect of prohibition in districts containing 15,000 population. There was no hotel, and consequently no pawnshop. He considered prohibition a success, although there was ' some sly sellingThe Rev. H. W, Miller (OnehungaCqngregational Church) referred to the success of Saltaiiein Yorkshire as a prohibition district. He considered the present licensing ~ laws a failure, and thought they shoukLga, in for prohibition. The Rev. J?eter Mason .thought' prohibition a good .thing, but only when backed by 'a strong .public ;tipi"nidtt. It was inadvisable until the people desired ltTT!Mean „ - j while they should work on with thai; en"d in view. Mr E. Tremain considered that the'Jicensing laws were not a failure. Some committees had done excellent work in regulating traffic and correcting abuses. Take whab could be gob now and work for prohibition in the future.' . , ' ,-fV~ ' Mr C. S. Wright, Chairman of the T?msonby Licensing Committee, was, caueKl upon to speak. He said he was not prei- ( r pared to vote for prohibition. So long as . • the licensing laws permitted hotels to be [ kept open he would do so, but he, was in favour of general prohibition. Mrs Davis and Mr Gregory also spoke, in ; 0 favour of prohibition. \ " Mr Hare referred to his journeyings , through Waipu and other Northern settlements where prohibition was <an foced. He considered the result all that could be desired ; - at , the came time he thought that there" were,., other institutions in' country settlements' ' scarcely less dangerous than hotels. "He *' instanced the dancing hall and racecourse. The Rev. X Chew replied at some length, after which he was accorded a vote of thanks for his paper. A vote of thanks was also accorded the Chairman on the motion of Sir VV. Fox.