NO-LICENSE RALLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2329, 23 October 1908, Page 6

NO-LICENSE RALLY.

CONVERSAZIONE JN THE

THEATRE

- The No-License League held a social in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when there was a large attendance. The'Rev. W. Chatterton occupied the chair, and said the meeting was one to allow a little relaxation after the hard work of the past few months, and to gather fresh effort for the time before the day of election.

The Rev. W. Grant said he would like to say a word of clieer to those who were, engaged in the work. During the week tidings had cmne to him from people who were not sympathisers in the movement that victory was almost certain. But while he felt that was cheerful news, he wanted them to be on. their guard and not to relaij their efforts to meet success on the election day. He did not want them to estimate their opponents too lightly, but to remember that the liquor trade had great resources at tlieir command. Mr Grant explained that the carrying of nolicense would not mean total prohibition as was often thought. Many people also held the idea 'that to vote no-license was an interference with the liberty of the subject, and doubted if that was right. He (Mr. Grant) held that it was right to do the greats i est- good for the greatest number, i and that it was right to sweep away j .a .curse from the people by closing the ( open bar. Each year of license meant j a fresh ’ crop of apprentices for a i drunkard’s doom, and each year in ( New Zealand from GOO to SOO people went to a drunkard's grave. "Whose ! boys are going to fill that grave?” the speaker asked.. "What father would say -liis own son ? But who could tell what boy was going to give way to the curse?” They often heard a great deal of the tragedy of a ! drunkard's death, but the tragedy ; continued throughout a drunkard’s , life. Mr. Grant appealed to all to vote no-license for the sake of the boys, and to work and pray for success on election day. The ltev. R. Ik Ivohere said ho would speak on 110-license from a Maori point of view. He would tell them that lie once served in a bar, and that his father kept a hotel. His ; father knew the business was a bad . one, although lie made money in it. One year, however, lie allowed the license to lapse, and closed up - the business: He (the speaker) was always proud of his father when lie saw that hptel closed; but years afterwards a number of white people applied for a license, and the house was retopcned with a liquor bar. The pakeha, Mr. Koliere said, introduced j strong drink to the Maori. The iirst J taste- was given by a party of French ’ navigators, and an olcl account of the ; visit of the foreigners stated that the j Maoris did not like the wine .and j spirits given to them, but refused the drink with disgust. The Maori had j to thank the pakeha for forcing drink upon him, for the Maori had no voice . in the question. Three years ago the natives of the district presented a pe- ; tition to the people of Gisborne ask- j ing them. to vote no-license, and he . (Mr. Kohere) renewed that appeal on behalf of his people. ' 1

The Rev. F. W. Chatterton, in a. brief speech, apologised for the cancelling of Mr. T. E. Taylor’s engagement to come to Gisborne, but announced that the Rev. Mr. Whitehouse, vicar of Ashburton, would visit the town in the 110-license cause in a week’s time. Mr. Chatterton said the 110-license party had put a number of’» speakers before the public during the past few months, but the liquor trade bad not put an advocate on the plat- j form. He wanted to see a man como : forward and publicly advocate the | trade, and he would challenge the trade to put a speaker forward. .He 1 appealed to all present to help the funds of the League so that work might be done to ensure success. Mrs. Morris, in a brief speech, referred to the benefits of no-license- in the Clutha and Ashburton districts, and said that similar benefit would come to Gisborne if the people voted 110-license on. the great day of the election. ') The Rev. Dawson Thomas said that lie was afraid only the fr.iends of the movement were present, and that the enemy would not show up for the contest. To-day the no-license move- j menfwas world-wide, and people were talking no-license in the Old "World, 1 the New World, and the newer world. ! New South Wales had learnt the less- j on of 110-license from New Zealand,' j and he was convinced there wo' ll Id bo ' a block vote from the Church of . England people in Gisborne for no- J license. . He was confident, that when the numbers went up on November: 17th next there would .be a big cheer from the League and its supporters. > During the evening an excellent musical programme was provided, j Mrs. Chatterton contributed a song, j the Misses Malcolm a pianoforte duet, j the Te Rau College students songs, I a party of natives two Maori songs, ! and Mr McClymont a song. Refreshments were also, served. j

A meeting of young men interested in the cause will be held in. Townley’s Hall to -morrow evening.