ANGLICAN CHURCH AND NO-LICENSE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 249, 14 October 1908, Page 3

ANGLICAN CHURCH AND NO-LICENSE.

A CLERIC'S PROTEST. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last 2<ignt. . At the Anglican Conference to night, » discussion took place on a motion by the Her. 0. A. B. Watson, urging church people in the diroese to vote for no-liceitee at the forthcoming local option poll. This met with support from several speakers, ,but was vigorously opposed by Rev. D. Beatty, who contended that it was a political ijuesuon, and as such was outside the province of the Synod. He claimed for himself Bad otter opponents of prohibition an equal amount of conscience as that possessed by the advocates of no-license. Mr. Beatty protested against clerical interference with the lay conscience, and declared that he was neither in favor of no-licesc nor the stoppage of the trade without compensation. Any resolution carried by the Synod would have very little, moral influence. Thu Church should regenerate people from .within. One cause for drunkenness was the want of healthy occupation and adherents of the Church and other ' oitganisations would do an immense amount of good if they would start places of national amusement. The Synod was not the Church, .and had not the slightest power to dictate to . him or anyone outside how they were to vote on this or any other matter. The discussion w«s adjourned until to- - morrow.