No-License Convention

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4398, 15 April 1909, Page 3

No-License Convention

INTERESTING ADDRESSES

There was a representative gathering at the Central Hall, Thames, on Friday when Rev Isitt, the champion No-license advocate of the Dominion, and Mr French, representative of the Auckland Provincial Council, delivered stirring and interesting addresses. During the day a convention of No-license workers was held, a number of delegates from Coromandel, Ohinemuri, and other electorates being in attendance.

—Chairman’s Remarks—

Mr E. H. Taylor, M.P., presided at the evening meeting, and in a concise and pointed address made his I sentiments known on the question hefore him. No-license he said was ’ one of the soundest business propositions that had ever been presented to the Dominion from both an economic and social standpoint, and conse- ; quently demanded consideration at [ the hands of the people. He brought evidence in support of this contention and also dealt at some length on State control, as supported by the Socialists. Whether the liquor was sold by the State or by an angel for that matter, he maintained,' the drink would be the same, and accentuated the necessity of eliminating the traffic altogether. He was working for No-license because he wanted to make this a better place for his children to live in, and he believed the day would not be far distant when No-license would be carried at Thames.

—Mr R. French

Mr French followed with a most interesting speech in which he reviewed the progress the temperance movement had made since its inauguration some years ago, and contrasted its power then with what it possesses at the present day, affirming that ! there was better cause for hope and I courage now than there had ever been. The Temperance movement was like a huge snowball, it increased as it moved on, while on the other hand the power of the trade was materially decreasing. Their arguments, he said, were getting out of date, the same being presented to-day the world over as were brought forward by the local press years ago. While they claimed consistency they could not be accredited with progress. There was a lot of opposition still to be met and overcome, but the results of last election should serve as an inspiration to renewed work and a guarantee of future success. Any function could now be successfully carried out without alcoholic liquors, and it generally seemed to be becoming more and more into disfavour. He referred to the satisfactory police returns in no-license areas and also ' stated that packet licenses should be 1 abolished altogether. :

—Rev. L. M. Isitt’s Address— Mr Isitt next rose to his feet and his address was entertaining, instructive, and inspiring. He paid a tribute to Mr Taylor’s ability as M.P., and said that down South they were almost as pleased that another Taylor was in the House as were the people of Thames. There was never a time when true and strong men were more needed in the Houses of Legislature, and he believed Mr Taylor would prove to the people that a No-license advocate is not necessarily a “ m&n of one idea.” He affirmed with the otheis that the No-license people never had more cause to be happy and optimistic. He explained many of the difficulties that had cropped up prior to last election and some of the stories that had been put forward by the opposing forces. He referred to Balclutha as a place that the trade did not like to refer to, as No-license had been in operation long enough there to overcome all initial difficulties and had proved imminently successful. All the old drunks had died out, and the young men had grown up without a desire for drink, consequently slygrog selling had been reduced to a minimum. The speaker said he was in favour of bare majority. It was the right of the people and Government by a majority was always better than Government by minority. If the bare majority ruled some electorates might lose no-license, but he did not want to keep any electorate against the will of the people. If an electorate wanted the open bars back again, they were welcome to them, but like Maine and Cambridge, he believed they would soon return to N>lice ise and each succeeding election reaffirm their conviction and before long every hotel in the Dominion would be closed to the sale of liquor. The sly-grog question did not seem to trouble Mr Isitt very much, although he expressed the opinion that many such shops may be opened in Ohinemuri. Down south, he said, free liquor was given to any one who would open a sly grog shop, and there was a probability of the same thing being done up here. However, he said each election weakens the power of the trade and lessens their finances, and the hopes of the cemperance party for the future are bright indeed. At the conclusion of the meeting a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to the speakers and also to Mr E. H. Taylor for presiding.