The No-License Campaign.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43382, 13 October 1908, Page 2

The No-License Campaign.

MR A. J. BLACK AT TE AROHA

Mil A. J. Bi.ack. of Auckland, opened the No-License Campaign in To Aroha with a series of meetings commencing in the open air on Saturday evening. A large concourse of people gathered and listened attentively to the lecturer, who pointed out that the No-License movement was not directed at any individual or community of persons, but against a system which has proved itself to be a menace to the best interests of national prosperity and has been responsible for a very large proportion of the crime, poverty, vice, and disease that exists, and has robbed society of many of the most promising lives that have been given to the world. The No-License movement had for its object the destruction of that system by the vote of the people l . While recognising that no legislative enactment would make abstainers of all those whom this long seated custom had made heavy or habitual drinkers, it is proved beyond doubt, by the experience of districts where No-License operates, that, where the licensed bars are closed the craving for alcoholic stimulants is not to be found and dominating the lives of the rising generation. Statistics were quoted showing that while the average convictions for drunkenness throughout the Dominion was 11 per 1,000 of the population in Clutha where No-License has ob‘aim'd for 12 years the convictions were only 1 per 2,000 of the population. On Sunday afternoon 120 men assembled in the Public Hall, when Mi' Black gave a talk to “Men Only” on “ Looking towards Sodom.” The interest aroused by the two previous meetings assured a large attend-

an m at the Sunday evening meeting hold i.i the Public Hall after Church services. The lestir er showed that the Temperance R ‘form Movement was not confined to our own Dominion, but was world-wide. Ii Switzerland the voice of the people had prohibited the sale of absinthe. The evils of “ vodka” drinking in Russia were so manifest that the National Duma were warning the people against the national beverage and had substituted the sign of “ the Dea h’s head and crossb. nes for the ‘‘Eagle ” on the labels of the bottles. In America, half of the

"nited States were under No-License. In Canada, Australia, and Great Britain grsat strides were being made, while we u our Dominion were holding “up our nd ” In commercial circles the evil effects of the L'quor Traffic upon trade .vas 8o pronounced, that b isiuess men were coming out against “ The Trade.’ because they recognised that it was a serious hindrance aud drawback to com mercial prosperity. The L ibour Union* joiuiug forces with the NoLicense movement, because they realised that the liquor traffic created aud h v loped the most powerful monopoly’s i J the u orld ; that while the monopoliats veru heaping up riches to themselves, their best customers, were the worst off. [n Maine, under No-Liceuse 19 per cent >f the householders owned their ,own houses, while in three ajoiniug licensed estates, the percentages per 15 : 17 : and 19 respectively. Reference was also made to the moral aspect of the question. [ u 1907. 5,851 persons appea ed before the Police Courts for the first time and convicted of drunkenness. The effects of indulgence in strong drink by the parents on their children was touched upon, facts emphaised that “No mai) liveth unto himself” and that our actions aud habits left their mark upon the rising generation, for “ weal or for woe. ” In concluding a most powerful and eloquent address, Mr Black asked his hearers not to "be misled by tin statements made, that No-Liceuse has proved a failure imour 'Dry Electorator.’ The drinking habits of the people were so deep seated and long duration, that it was illogical to suppose they can be eradicated by a year [or two of NoLicense given a fair trail, such as it had in Clutha, and its beneficial effects will be manifested. Throughout the lecture, Mr |Black had th; sympathies of the c owded audience, and it is quite evident that his initial meetings of the campaign were a great success.