NO-LICENSE DEMONSTRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7994, 4 December 1905, Page 2

NO-LICENSE DEMONSTRATION.

THE CHILDREN'S DAY. The no-license demonstration of Saturday was well conceived and a pronounced success. The excitement commenced when the children in twos, tens and twenties, arrived at Whitclcy Hall, preparatory to forming up for the procession through the (own. On behalf of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Miss Amburv presented Mrs Cock, the Mayoress, with a beautiful bouquet, to mark the Union's appreciation of her presence (hat afternoon. In replying, Mrs Cock stated that she wos not present as the Mayoress, but as a sympathiser in the work.

The procession was then formed, and passed down Devon Street to Egmont Street, and thence to the vacant apace opposite the railway station. The procession was headed by a large lorry, drawn by three horses. The vehicle was decorated to represent a lifeboat, containing a crew of little boys, who, led by Mr Pikett, were lustily adjuring the crowd in the street to " strike out the top line." Next came Mr Goodacre's phaeton, drawn by a pair of ponies, and conveying Mrs Cock, Mayoress, and Mr" Bruntnell. All along the long line of vehicles appeared banners and bannerettes, flags and mottoes, whilst each wagon and team was profusely decorated with flowers and foliage. Conspicuous amongst the host of smaller waving designs was the beautiful banner of the W.C.T.U., in silver and blue satin, bearing the inscription I' For God, For Home, For Humanity." The majority of the children flourished mottoes. " Vote for me," " Vote for us," || Save your boy," " Vote for reform," New Zealand leads," and the time-words " Strike out the top line." Some cimisenient was caused in Devon Street when a brewer's carl joined ill the throng, laden with barrels. Then there came on the scene four young bloods, dressed in the regulation black and choker, their faces thickly daubed with rouge, evidently intended to represent intoxicated clergy. These were not part of the procession, nor in touch with the organisers of the domenstration, as van clearly evidenced when they inaugurated a distribution of lilcrt. re which advised the voter to "strike out the two bottom lines." The burlesque was carried to such an extent that some of the wee mites of (op-liners became scared at the grimaccs mac?*. At the corner of Egmont and St. Auliyn Streets (he crowd lined up on wh it wa< once the base of Mount Eliott, the children sang again the topline songs, and then 'the Eev J. N. Buttle introduced

MR. BIiUNTNELL,

tile celebrated no-license orator. Mr Bruntnoll expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large crowd present, and also lit the publicity f/ivrn (o the no-lie,••lisc qi:e-Lion for some lime past. The no-lieense people souylit :i settlement of Ihe (| ueslijn in a publie ami const iliilional tasluon, und v-.rrr lo see that the trade was prepared to face the matter ou! on the public platform. He strongly denounced the luetics of the parly who sent four emissaries dressed in such fashion lo interrupt, the proceedings that, afternoon, but at the same timV thought the move would recoil on those who made it, und do no harm to tin no-license cause, Jle quoted the | ;1 j 0 Mr W. K. Gladstone, Lord Coleridfc Hie Right Hon. .Toseph Oliandierl.iin' Arch,lea.on FarrarJ Canon force, Adam Ci.rke, Gener..! Booth, Lord Roberts, Lord M olselcy, Cardinal Manning-, and other eminent men who*, opinions were opposed to the drink trafH •. Mr Chamberlain had said that ir it were possible to eradicate the desire for strong drink, the taxation of Ungl.md would lie reduced by million.-, and the gaols would be empty Ju New S inlh Wales the statisticians had shown that 40 per cent, of the present gaol population was imprisoned as a' direct result of the drink traffic He lintel people to open their eyes loth., evil now being wrought by drink. He pitied the drunkards, who included some of the world's brainiest men, and deserved better treatment and kinder words irom the people as a whole,,and in particular those who had caused their downfall. "The drunkards," it. had been said, " will never be dead." I nfortunati'ly as fast as one drunkard died there were others to till the place, i coplc had too much sense to be blindedby the t-ry tKut if no-license were carried lawless people would break the law simply to satisfy the cravings of ;t depraved appetite. He appealed lo those present lo " strike out the top line." Mr Brnnlnell was frequently applauded. Cheers were given for the speaker for the Mayoress, and for those who lent reliicles, and assisted the demonstration in various ways. 10 children rook up the strain's of the " Top-line " again, after which Mr Hruniuell sang "Sons of the Free" an adaption of the words and air of ■ one of our recently popular martial songs. It is estimated that five hundred children, mostly belonging to the town, took part, and (hat about four or five hundred adults listened to the address. Hie credit of carrying out the arraiigemenls is due to the Young Men's nndlonng Women's No-license Club. ilie procession was then re-f-jrmed, and the children were taken lo the Recreation Grounds, Here tliev were , treated to fruit, lollies, etc., and had an , hour s enjoyment in the grounds. At night Mr Bruntnsll addressed a Urge crowd at the corner ef Devon and ' tirougham Streets. I