NO-LICENSE CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 280, 19 April 1911, Page 4

NO-LICENSE CONFERENCE

. THE DELEGATES OPTIMISTIC. A largely attended meeting of delegates from all parts of Taranaki assembled in tlie Presbyterian Hall at n Hawera on Easter .Monday morning, the chair being taken by Mr." llalliwell. Good reports were received from tho Taranaki electorate on the coming fight. Most of the delegates were quite optimistic in regard to the coming poll, and it was generally thought that the people of the Dominion would vote the liquor traffic out.

The secretary and treasurer, Mr. Maunder, gave his annual report on the' year's work, which was received, and Mr. Maunder thanked. Messrs. Boon, Sole, Maunder, Halliwell, Pearcc, and Mrs. Stanners reported on their elector- - ates, and reported that the people are very sympathetic with the cause. The Council reported as follows: The year has been quiet, and .there is nothing to report of the actual doings of the Council, because there, has been no meeting since last annual meeting in Eltham. June 3, 1010. It will be remembered that then the great question was the proposed amendments to the licensing laws. We were then a good deal divided in opinion, not in the desire to push on the prohibition cause, but in the best way of doing it. We have now the pleasure to report that the law has been amended, much to our gratification, but not to our satisfaction. We shall be satisfied, as n No-License Council, when there are no licensed sales, wholesale or retail, in the Dominion; and towards that we continue to work. It is a cause 01 much disappointment to us that the unreasonable three-fifths majority under j which we suffer has not been done away with, or at least reduced; for this, of course, we have still to strive, and not without hope, as it seems that our f friends all over New Zealand are uniting more closely than ever in the demand for justice and, equality in electoral rights. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President, Mr. C. E. Bellringer; vice-presidents, Mr. Halliwell (Patea), Mr. C. D. Sole (Stratford), Mr. Pearce (Taumarnnui), Mr. W. C. Clements (Egmont), Rev. R. J. Siddle (Taranaki); general secretary, Mr. G. H. Maunder. Mr. C. E. Bellringer here took the chair as the new president, and conducted the business of the session. Delegates from the different electorates were elected as follows:—Taranaki, Messrs. Cocker, F. R. Pepperell, X. T. Maunder; Stratford, Messrs. McAllister, Mail, I. Martin; Taumarunui, Miss Bicheno, Rev. Willis, B.C.Lawrfence; Patea, 'Rev, Dixon, and Bone. The (i-(#Hi»i of organisation of the party was Introduced by Mr. Dixon, and a definite platform was adopted for all temperance parties. The legislation in regard to the liquor traffic was introduced by the president, and continued by the Rev. R. J. Liddell, lately of Ashburton, who spoke with ■ knowledge in regard to No-license in Ashburton. He also pointed out the great advantages that town had received under No-license. ■

A discussion on Professor Salmond's pamphlet wns introduced by the Rev. Mr. MeTvor, who ably dealt with tho '- professor's arguments that prohibition was a failure, and he showed to what desperate straits the professor was reduced when he misapplied scripture in his endeavor to bolster up his case. Mr. Sole (Stratford) moved that application be made to the Education and Railway Departments that the temperance wall sheets issued to the' State schools ]« posted-,, up &\. «very railway station throughout the Dominion, oh the grounds that they are State documents, and in the interest of the State they should be made as public as possible.— Carried.

The question of the bare majority was introduced, and after taking the discussion in committee, the following resolution was arrived nt: ''That this meeting reaffirms the just principle of simple majority, and further advises all friends of the movement to refuse support to any candidate who stands by the three-fifths majority."—Hawera Star.