CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 267, 4 November 1908, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE XO-LICEXSE QUESTIOX. To the Editor. Sir, —Tiie Rev. Palmer has issued a circular throughout the district cnclos ing speeches by the liisliop ot Christchurch and the Kev. Whiu-house on the debate of the no-license question ar. the Anglican Synod held recently in Cliristehurch. At the bottom of tha Kev. Palmer's circular he states that the decision of the .Synod was a recommendation to vote in favor of no-license. This is a most misleading statement, and is absolutely contrary to facts, ™ the resolution passed at that meeting was as follows: "That this Synod, while unable on the evidence at present before it to express any autnoritative or unanimous opinion on the relative merits of license and no-license, welcomes every

legitimate effort to decrease the many deplorable evils of intemperance in the use of alcoholic liquors, and commends the whole matter to the earnest and careful consideration of all church people of the diocese." The Rev. Jlr. Matthias then movei: ''That this Synod commends no-license as the only available remedy at the present time for the grave and increasing' evils of intemperance." After discussion the proposal was lost, thu voting being as follows:Ayes: Clergy 12, laity 18. Xocs: Clergy 27, laity 10, a total of 37 against to 30 an favor. By these figures you will see that the Synod was not in favor of nolicense. The clergy recognise a respectable, well-conducted trade is bettei than tiie no-license method. The 'late Jlr. Gladstone opposed'prohibition, the j'i-hop of Durham, the Bishop of JlaaChester, Dean Harper of Christchurch, being also opposed to it. ArcMearon \Yalsh (who is well known in Turalraki), says that lie knew from actual experience in the old days in the Xortn of Auckland the drinking there was greater than it was now under license,

and licensed houses had to be introduced to mitigate the evil, while our loc.il prohibitionists are so gladly quoting figures in regard to Ashlmrlon. It will lit' well to remember the Anglican Synods debate on the no-license question, and that tlie-e clcrtfvnicii who wanted, if they could have 'accepted the stories of what no-license had done and all it. is claimed to have done, wou'd not with the evidence before them (the Rev. Whitchouse. from Ashburlmi. was there with all his evidence) agree that it was so, and these are men as keen in the teinjieranee rate-rests as any in these districts, lint they couldn't, with all these facts before them, support nolicense. The Xew Zealand Alliance has been and is now making strenuous cll'ims lo cany no license at the poll to be lakeo on November 17th. If prohibition is ear-rii-,1 (as in the past) as most peopie

imagine, hut the. total extinction of all wine, spirit, and liecr licenses, as clause. 4 in the Licensing Act passed last year provides--When prohibition is carrion j that it shall not ho lawful to grant or renew any publican. New Zealand wi'ae, I accommodation, bottle, packet, whole sale or conditional license or charter of any club. In the event of no-licen.,e being carried lhjuor can only be obtained from a licensed area and only on eon-1 dition that the description of liquoi (which must be also clearly indicated | on the cask or ease), and the of I the con-ignor and consignee, with other particulars, is dnlv notilied to the authorities. Therefore STRIKE OI"T THE LAST TWO LIXI'X—I am. etc.. 'ADSOLUTE FACTS.