The Prohibition Campaign.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7842, 7 June 1905, Page 2

The Prohibition Campaign.

The Prohibition campaign was extended to New Plymouth on Tuesday evening, when at the invitation of tlie local No' License party the Jtev. F. W. Isltt and Mrs Harrison Leo addressed a public meeting in the Theatre Koyal. The audience was fairly large, the floor seating accommodation living well filled, while there were n. good number of ladies in the dress circle.- The Mayor (Mr R. Cock) presided, and there were also on the platform the Kuv. N. Huttlo und an otticor of the Salvation Army. The stago was surmounted with the banner of the New Plymouth branch of the W.C.T.U., and on each side of the platform were feigns displaying an array of telling figures of the drink traffic an(i |crime, under the headings' "Words for the Wise" and '/Compare License with No License." The Rev. F. W. Isitt, in the course of an effective address, complained that the prohibition movement did not get the supjjort of many of the clergy and others from whom in the name of humanity thoy hud a right to expect it. lie gave a vivid picture of the efTects of drink on tho lives, health, and pockets of the people, and asked whether anyone could conscientiously vote for the continuance of a traffic that was responsible for such terrible wrongs. Mrs Harrison Lee was warmly received, and she quickly ingratiated herself with the audience. She took as her text "Let There Be Light," and attacked a number of "specious" arguments advanced by the moderate drinkers and others. She represented that the business community, from the commercial standpoint alone, should advocate No License, as much of the money diverted from the tap room went to the tradespeople to buy necessities nnd luxuries for the wives and families of men who had previously squandered their money. She urged the people of New Plymouth to try tho experiment of No License for three years. She aslied the people to realise the wonderful lever they hud in their hands with local option. Pleasantries and nnecdotes relieved the tedium of the evening, und some amusement w*as caused by the utter rout of one or two irrelevant questioners- at the hands of the Rev. I<\ W. Isitt. A collection was taken up to defray the expenses, and a vote of thanks to tho Chairman concluded the proceedings.