LICENSING BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1038, 3 November 1903, Page 3

LICENSING BILL.

PROTESTS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF. COLONY.

(Per Press Association.)

INVERCARGILL, last night.

The Baptist Churcl), passed a resolution expressing surprise that such an undemocratic measure should, be proposed by Mr Seddon, and catling upon members to use their utmost cuorts to defeat the Licensing Bill. ■ CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday..

At the Wesleyan Church last night the Rev. W. Baumber read a series of protests against the Licensing Bill, Which were passed by, .the congregation- beiore the serrnpn began. The of St. Paul’s Prctbyterian .Church, numbering over ' 800, passed a motion protesting against the Bill, as being contrary to Liberal and democratic principles, and in tbe interests-of the .liquor trade, while seriously curtailing the power of control at present rightly enjoyed by the people. The protest to be forwarded to the Premier and city members of the House, was carried unanimously.

In Rangiora, . Soutlibrook, Woodend, Low burn, and other churches in the Northern districts, motions protesting the retrograde, non-Liberal, ■and undemocratic conditions of the Licensing Bill, were passed. The'Rev,. J. A. Luxiord, during a ►service held in Lyttelton Church, said that Mr Se.ddon’s Licensing Bill would alienate the Methodist Church in New Zealand from the present Government. A public meeting in the Square on Saturday night uanimously passed a resolution, ’ 1 that this meeting strenuously protests against the introduction of such undemocratic-and iniquitous provisions against the rights and liberties of the people as the Licensing Amendment Bill eon-

t * UlS ‘ ASHBURTON, last night. At a large mceeing held in the Methodist Church last night resolutions were unanimously passed protesting against the pandering to the liquor dealing contained in the Licensing Bill, and deploring the retrograde proposals and undemocratic principles contained therein. ine measure gives a new lease of lne to the liquor traffic, and robs the temperance party of tbe advantages gained after years of strenuous efforts. The meeting appealed to members of Parliament to respect the

will of the majority, of. the people, and to do their utmost to prevent the Bill becoming law, as it would be a dishonor and a national calamity. DUNEDIN, last nighty A' large number of churches throughout Dunedin and suburbs yesterday passed resolutions condemning the Government Licensing Bill, anu calling upon members to throw it out* A mass meeting .will he held to-night, CARTERTON, last night.; A strong resolution pro-testing against the Licensing Bill, was passed by the congregations of the Presbyterian Churches at Carterton and Gladstone. WANGANUI, last night. 1

The following resolution was unanimously carried by the congregations of "the Wesleyan, Baptist, Presbyterian and Primitive Methodist Churches at the close of tho usual services last evening : “ That this congregation resolves that a strong protest be made to the Right lion, the Premier and the member for the district, against the licensing proposals now before the House of Representatives. The meeting deems that at this late period of the session, the introduction of such drastic alterations is inopportune, and requests Mr Willis, M.H.R., to do his utmost to prevent the provisions of the Bill from becoming law, until such time as the electorates shall •have had an opportunity of expressing their views on the matter.” TIMARU, last night. A largely attended meeting was held in the Theatre Royal last night, to protest against the Licensing Bill Speakers characterised it a 9 a publicans’ measure, and a resolution of protest was passed. At the Wesleyan Church a ser es of protests against the Bill .were also passed, also one appealing to parliament for immediate rectification of the present conditions in Bruce and Newtown, and for the prevention of their recurrence in connection with fut.ure local option polls.

FEILDING, last night.

A 1 meeting was held in the drill hail last night after church services to protest against the Licensing Bill After addresses by the Wesleygn and Presbyterian ministers and adjutant of the Salvation Army, the following resolution wag passed unanimously : “ That this meeting protests against ’the Licensing Bill now before the House, and especially, against clauses 3, 10, 11, 14, and 33, and condemns

the Bill as inimical to the bsst interests of the colony.”

MEETING AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

(Per Press Association.) Now Plymouth, last night. At the public meeting to-night to protest against interference with popular control of tho liquor traffic thore was a fair attendance. A series of resolutions wero passod unanimously, to the effect that tho Bill prejudices the prospects of temperance reform ; that it restricts the rights of the people at the poll; that the clause re liquor in private houses in prohibited districts was an undue interference with personal liberty, and was illogical and undemocratic; that the proposal whereby it was possible to undermino the agreement to exclude liquor from the King Country was disgraceful to a civilised people ; that tho clause re the constitution of the licensing committeo was reaching especially for the admission of persons interested in tho salo of liquor; and condemning tho facility for granting conditional licenses.

The County Council to-day also unanimously resolved to protest against clause

NELSON’S OPINION.

BILL OPPOSED TO ALL DEMO, CRATIC PRINCIPLES.

Per Press Association. Nelson, last night,

At a largely-attended meeting held tonight with the object to protest against the Liquor Bill, it was resolved that in the opinion of this meeting the Licensing Bill before Parliament is a dangerous attompt to rob the people of the power they dow possess. To control the liquor traffio this meeting therefore strongly protests against such a Bill as opposed to all the true democratic principles, and also to the social and moral advancement of tbe colony. Copies of tho resolutions are to be sent to the Premier and Nelson members.

A DUNEDIN RALLY.

APPEAL TO THE CITY MEMBERS

Per Press Association. Dunedin, last night. A rally against the Licensing Bill in the form of an indignation meeting was held in the Garrison Hall, and attended by over 2000 persons. The Bill was discussed by Mr A. S. Adams, Revs. Saunders and Fairclough in impassioned speeches, stimulated by the enthusiasm of the audience. The proceedings all through were frequently interrupted by dissentients who were orderly. Eleven of the twelve resolutions adopted by the Council of the Churcheß and Temperance Reform Council telegraphed last week were adopted, It was also resolved that the meeting protests indignantly against the aotion of those members of the House who voted for tbe second reading of the Bill, and appeals to the Government to abandon the Bill, or, failing that, calls upon the members for the city and suburbs to protect the rights of tbe electors by opposing the passing of the Bill through the Committee by every possible constitutional means, and urges other members of the House to take similar action. It waß decided to send a copy of tbe motion to Mr Massey.

Thus the Opotiki Herald The secretary of tho Railway League has received replies from Sir J. G. Ward and the Hon. J. Carroll to the invitation sent to visit Opotiki. Tbe former will not likely come, but Mr Carroll holds out good hopes of a visit. Wonder if the Hon James could induce the Premier to come ?

In passmg sentonce on a prisonor who ; had been convictod of perjury at the Bathurst Circuit Court, Now South Wales, Acting-Chief Justice Stephen said tho crime” of perjury was rife right through the State, and he could hardly find terms to express his indignation at, and terror of, the amount of it that was committed. From 1857 to tho end of last month tbe value of tho gold entered for exportation from New Zealand was £62,641,691, representing nearly 16 million ounces. An old man, aged 84 years, a widowei, residing in the Pablatha district, called on a local clergyman and. asked him to marry him to his intended bride. The applicant said ho had got a billet as station manager, and ho thought it would be convenient to get married. On being asked to whom be wished to bo united he named a girl aged 24. The clergyman was not in favor of tho marriage, but bo saw no just cause for objecting to it, and the couple were duly'married, and left for their new home. Tho tragic tram accident tho other day emphasises tho importance of not attempting to leave a car while it is m motion (says “ Mercutio ” in the Auckland Herald). And in this connection I must enter my protest against tho practice of motormen and conductors clanging thoir bolls while passengers are entering or leaving a car, with tho object apparently of hurrying them up, and also against the haste of some conductors to start their cars

before the passengers have got beyond the step. There have been several narrow escapes duo to this dangerous practice. Then, again, the speed with whioh some of the cars are driven round curves is another element of danger to those inside. You may be thrown against the sharp corners of a seat, or tbe conductor may bo hurlod with great violence on the top of you. The other day I saw a fat and stupid-looking conductor precipitated with considerable force into the lap of a fashionable young lady in a car. He seemed to think it fine fun, for ho sat grinning where he'was thrown, making no effort to recover himself until told to get up.