THE DIRECT VETO.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2528, 13 July 1893, Page 2

THE DIRECT VETO.

The meeting called at Geraldino to consider and pass resolutions respecting the Direct Veto Bill and other temperance matters was well attended on Tuesday evening, the Oddfellows' Hall being comfortably full. The Rev. A. B. Todd having been voted to the chair, said it gave him great pleasure to have a public opportunity of testifying his sympathy with the temperance cause. (Loud applause). The temperance cause was one that deserved the support of every man that wished to see righteousness and truth triumph in the world, and had.the heart's desire for happy homes and good living. He was sure that advocates of temperance must in receat years have been cheered at the great progress their cause is making. In these days of depression in many things it was refreshiug to know that there was no depression in temperance. Her star is always in the ascendancy, and his hope was " Long may it continue so." (Applause). They were met that night to discuss a further advance in the great work, viz., the direct veto. Anyone who who looked at this question at all must have been struck with its common sense. The present was a democratic age, with a Government by the people for the people, and he could not see why the question of temperance —a question that went home to every man, woman, and child as many other questions did not—should not be decided upon by the people. (Loud applause). They could vote on school and local bodies' questions—some of which did not touch them at all—and why then, he asked, Bhould the people not vote ©n this great question which touched every man at heart. (Renewed applause). At present they had the most democratic Govern ment they ever had in New Zealand (applause)—and now waa the time for temperance advocates to strike for victory. He was pleased to see the satisfactory result of the interview with the Premier, and that the latter almost affirmed the principle of the direct veto, and thought this was a hopeful sign for the temperance party. Their opponents argued that the people did not want prohibition. If so, here in the direct veto was a platform on which they could all unite. If <he people were opposed to prohibition the direct veto played right into hands of the liquor party, and the latter should support the bill and give the people power to settle the matter—(loud, applause),—but the temperance party thought otherwise. They were confident that the direct veto was the first nail in the coffin, or the death-blow to the liquor traffic. He could eommend the Bill before Parliament as a common-sense one, and worthy of support. The Rev W. C. Woodward was entrusted with the first resolution—" That this meeting desires to express itß deep regret at the loss caused to the tempeiance movement by the death of Sir William Fox." He (Mr Woodward) resided in Auckland for some time, and being actively engaged in temperance work there, was frequently in the company of Sir William; and very few had any idea of the great work the deceased gentleman did on behalf of the cause, The temper* anco party to-day owed much of its strength to Sir William Fox, whose pet idea was to give the people power to de» cide the liquor question. In conclusion the speaker paid a high tribute to Sir William Fox, and said that though dead himself, his works would still live and be a glorious example to all temperance workers.

Mr Dalton seconded the resolution, and briefly endorsed the opinions of the pre* vious speaker. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr F. 11. Flatman was called upon to propose the next resolution-—" That the licensing committee of this district be asked to take notice of the prevalence of Sunday trading in Geraldine." This resolution was not the outcome of his own personal observations. For his part he knew nothing concerning the liquor traffic at Geraldine in particular, but in many places where he had travelled he was certain that the liquor was not all supplied on a Saturday night that was drunk ou a Sunday. The cause of temperance was the cause of God, and he hoped soon to see the liquor traffic swept clean away. From personal experience he,know that people could do without liquor and have better health. (Applause). Mr R. Hammond, in seconding the resolution, saici that to the last Geraldjne, Licensing "Benph meeting tbe Temperance party forwarded a letter re several breaches of the law which had taken place, and nothing was heard of the letter, The secretary of the Good Templars made enquiries, and was informed by the chairman of the committee if anyone had a complaint he should in person and prove it. He (Mr Hanu mond) would like to know if the meeting was satisfied with the way in which th§ licensing laws are carried out in GeraU dine. He saw outside one of the hotels, in Geraldine two persons preaching, when a drunken man caino from the house and said to those preaching, < You move away from here. We are just having a quiet; game of cards and a drink for ourselves, and we are not going to be annoyed by you." Ho also know for a fact that on tho Sunday spoken of in tho lettor to the Bench no loss than a dozen drunken men reeled out of some of tho hotels, and ho was told that it was scarcely safe for a female to pass down Geraldine on the Sunday in question. The rev. chairman thought that if My Hammond's statomenta were correct, the. Licensing Bench should decidedly be, ftp, proved, on the matter,

The motion was put and carried unanimously. The Rev. Mr Woodward said that arrangements were made to have the Rev. Mr Isitt present that night, but ho was not able to corao. It, therefore, fell to him (Mr Woodward; to propose the moat important resolution of the evening, namely—" That this meeting demands the right of the people to the direct veto as to whether the drink traffic shall exist or not, and urges the Government to support Sir Robert Stout's Bill." Mr Woodward then went fully into the recent Court decisions with respect to licenses. The highest Court in the laud had decided that if a man was a Prohibitionist he was totally unfit for a seat on a Licensing Bench, but nothing was Baid agaiust the unfitness of those for the office who sat on the Bench to keep public houses open at all cost. The Sydenham Prohibition candidates in the first place issued a ticket tlut they would close all hotels, but being warned by solicitors that this unfitted them to sit on the Bench, they therefore withdrew their ticket and said they would exercise a judicial mind on the matter. Yet in the face of this, and the fact that they were than in the same position as the committee whose decision for the closing of a hotel was upheld by Judge Richmond as judicial and right, they were told that the Sydenham Prohibition party were unfitted for a seat on the Bench. It was very unfair that a committee elected by the people should be put to the expense and trouble of Court proceedings because they exercised their judicial rights, and the time now was ripe when every man and woman should have a voice to say whether hotels shall exist in the place where they reside. (Loud applause) There was an old heathen proverb " that the voice of the people is the voice of God," and the present Government in power owned the right of the people to have a voice on all matters relative to their wellboiug He (the speaker) was present at the interview with Mr Seddon, and the latter said, " I believe it right that tho people should decided upon a matter of this kind, and if they say there must be no licenses there ought to be no licenses." (Loud applause.) He (Mr Woodward) admitted that there might be some good men connected with the liquor trade, just as there were good men connected with the Blave trade in olden times. George Whitfield at one time kept slaves to raise funds for his colleges to train ministers of the Gospel. Whitfield and others of his day thought they were doing right, but public opinion on this matter had changed to-day, and slavery was abolished from under the flag of Britain. So with the drink traffic, public opinion was changing, and when it was abolished all fair-minded people connected with the trade would then come to see the truth and justice of Prohibition. Men cavilled about infringement on their liberty, but individual liberty was being curtailed day by day in many other ways, and Prohibitionists did not think that the direct veto wouli injure the subject, but would benefit the many even if the few suffered. With respect to the compensation to publicans, he pointed out that the English Privy Council had decided against it. With regard to the sly grogBelliug after the traffic was abolished, he believed that if a man got drunk then the question would arise, " Where did he get the drink V and the " blue-bottles " (policemen) would soon scsnt the festered spot. On all questions the minority must give way to the majority, and if Prohibitionists found themselves in the minority, they would give way and set about educating the people to a majority. The rev. gentleman then touched on one or two poiuts in Sir Robert Stout's Bill, and closed by saying that they had a right to demand—not pray—that Wie people should have the direct veto. (Prolonged applause.)

Mr John McKenzia seconded the resolution, and said that the chief argument in favour of the Bill was its moderateness aud reasonableness; nothing exorbitant or outrageous was demanded, and nothing asked for but what already regulated the legislature in every department of life. He commended the Bill to every intelligent man present. (Loud applanse). The motion was carried unanimously.

Mr W. E. Barker moved—" That all persons present pledge themselves not to support any candidate for Parliamentary honors unless he favours the Direct Veto Bill, and that the present member be urged to support this question." When Mr Rhodes put up for Parliament he said that the people then had local option their own hands, but circumstances since then had proved to the contrary—that the people had no power to decide on the Jiquor traffic. He believed that Mr Rhodes was perfectly honest in his conviction at that time, and he could see no reason why he should stick to his former pledge, seeiDg it was made under a misapprehension. He, Mr Barker, was pleased to see the colonies leading the van in every reform, and he urged temperance people to be united and earnest, or the Old Country would get the Direct Veto before thom. They should sacrifice all Bide issues and personal opinions for the one object, and when they had got that all other reforms would follow in good time. The Direct Veto should be made a tost question to all candidates. (Applauße.) Mr Colin McKenzie seconded the rei s >lution, and confirmed what Mr Barker s lid respecting Mr Bhodes. He believed that Mr Rhodes was honest in his conviction that the people had the power in their hands. In repudiating Judge Dennistoun's decision, Mr McKenzie held that the Judge had put an interpretation on the Licensing Act that the Act did not bear. The motion was carried without dissent. The Rev. Mr Woodward proposed, Mr Flatman seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr Todd for acting as ohairman,which was carried hy acclamation. Jn replying, the Rev Mr Todd said he was pleased to see such a large representative gathering of the citizens of Geraldine, and he took it that Geraldine had spoken with no uncertain sound on the question before them.. The meeting- then closed and a large number of persons went forward and signed a petition which the temperance party intend forwarding to Parliament, The direct veto meeting* at Hokitika pu Monday night last ended in a ijazle. Very few attended. An amendment was moved to the customary resolution by Mr Iludson, a publican, that the Government be asked to abolish the licensing committees iind revort to the old licensing benches. This was declared carried by 24 to 18, only a few voting. On becoming the substantive motion jt was declared lost. The Rev. Mr Burrows, the mover of tho original resolution, then moved another that this meeting- approves of the Direct Veto Bill now before the House. This the Mayor, who was chairman declined to receive as it was identical with the one already lo3t by the carrying of the amendment. The meeting- then h?oi*e tip. Public meetings at \\"aioiate and Kaikoura carried resolutions in favor of Direct Veto. The latter meeting, however, condemned the Bill now before the House, and 9«;iQ4a^esoluUoawi'ihbut>liv«diaseutieati3

in favor of allowing each licensing district to decide for itself on the matter.—The I'romier was interviewed at Wellington on Tuesday night by a deputation, representing the interests of the brewers and licensed victuallers of the colony. Thirteen or fourteen delegates were present from various parts of the colony, and were accompanied by Captain Russell, and Messrs Fish, Sandford, and Dawson, members of tne House. On the subject of the Direct Veto Bill, the deputation pointed out that if it were passed it would mean the throwing out of employment a large proportion of the population of the colony, the liquor interest, with thoße dependent on it, being about one-thirteenth of the whole population. The loss of license fees would necessitate the addition of Is in the £ to local rates. The deputation reminded the Premier that one-tenth of the revenue of the country was derived from the liquor trade. As to the prohibition movement, it was contended that the prohibition party appeared to be strong Bimply because they were well organised, whereas those of opposite views had taken no steps in the matter. W ith regard to " tied " houses, the depntation pointed out that many misstatements had been made on the subject, and the fact of the matter was that the brewer advanced money to the publican, who was simply bound to take colonial beer from his brewery, but in every other respect the licensee was perfectly free. The deputation agreed with the principle of the Bill preventing the sale of intoxicating liquor to children, but urged that the proposed penalties for breaches of the Act were far too heavy. The Premier in reply promised to lay the views of the deputation before his colleagues. With regard to the Direct Veto Bill he thought it would be better if the two parties could come to some arrangement on the question, instead of going to tho country, although he had full i'aith in the judgment of the constituencies. He admitted that the deputation had put a different complexion on the state of affairs in regard to " tie 1" houses, and as they stated the question it did not at all seem unfair Of his own knowledge, however, there were exceptions.