NO-LICENSE LEAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2504, 18 May 1909, Page 3

NO-LICENSE LEAGUE.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Gisborne No-licensc League was held in the Presbyterian School last evening. There das a good attendance of members. The chair was taken by the President, Rev. F. W. Chatterton, who, in his opening address, said: —The election of 1908 lias come and gone, and the open bar is to bo a moral more in Gisborno for another three years. Nearly everyone seemed to think that No-license was assured, but nearlv everyone- seemed to under-estimate the grim determination of the trade that at any cost Gisborne should retain its licenses. Until electors understand that the drink trade of necessity stands first and foremost for gain, that its wealth is used unstint:ingly to save its position, that it is one of the most serious enemies to a country's welfare, they will still hesitate to vote No-license. But the moral sense of the Dominion is growing daily stron ger in this direction, and tlio No-licenso vote last year was an overwhelming testimony to the strong determination of this young country not to allow drink to tyrannise over it as it is doing in some of the older countries. The number of No-license districts was just doubled at the last election, and not a single electorate went back on its previous decision. The total No-licenso vote has greatly increased, and the trade has had another warning to quit. It exists now contrary to the express wish of a large majority of the electors of the Dominion. The question has been frequently asked why Gisborne went back on its 1905 vote. There are many reasons. Some argue thus: Leave things alone. We know where we are now. But suppose a change should be for the worse? The trade had tried to convince them that it would be for the worse, and they failed to see that if the trade was in such great fear of No-license being carried, and was prepared to spend thousands to stop it, that was one-of the strongest evidences that No-license in the eyes of the trado meant decreased drinking, in spite of its assertions to the contrary. Their deeds belied their words, and yet some electors failed to see this. Again, others were so confused by the absolutely contradictory statements that they heard that they did not know what to believe. Tlie trade was fighting for its very existence. It was not surprising, therefore, that in its desperation it made use of every available means to persuade electors to vote" for continuance. I knew, too, that one, great source of weakness was our own defective organisation. Unfortunately, for the last three months before the campaign we were without an organising agent, and though excellent work was done by voluntary workers, this could not be exrected to compensate for efficient organisation throughout the electorate under the supervision of one competent head. This is a sine quia non of success in such a work as this, and must be provided for next time. A few words.should be eaid with regard to the figures,.that were! signed by the Mayor and the President. of the Nolicense League. Unfortunately. ; the polling day being very close at hand, everything had to be rushed through so rapidly that there was no time to secure some of the most important facts- and figures, so that for the purpose of getting at what was originally intended, viz., the effect of No-license in the areas in which it was carried, the figures were valueless. Of course, the liquor party tried to make capitalout of them, but unfortunately for them, the item upon which they staked everything was the particular one ivith regard to Invercargill’s liquor consumption, and when the complete figures were available, which was not til! tlie flay after publication, tlie facts Tyei'C SO crushing that tiie only thing for the trade to do was absolutely to ignore them. The figures, however, showed tfiat with regard to beer alone, during the two years under No-license, the ai '.punt tfyai passed into or was brewed in InfWeargill decreased by over 200,000 gallons. Jin the face of the3 l facts, the liquor party still try l.y persuade electors that No-license increases drinking, although, strange to say, they are willing at the . same time to spend thousands-of pounds to try and prevent No-license being carried. One of the questions that electors are asking just now is this: With an increasing No-license vote, how comes it that the. drink bill of the Dominion is also'increasing? The increase in drinking is due chiefly to the prosperous times which have been ours for some years past, for, it is a well-known fact . that periods of prosperity .mean periods of luxury and self-indulgence, and one of the forms this luxury takes is indulgence in alcohol'. As long as the facilities for getting it are so great, arid as long as the custom of “shouting” prevails to the. extent; it does,; the; drink bill will he high, and it is for’this very reason that so many men who do drink vote for No-license, as they wish to see the facilities for drinking reduced, and the vicious custom of “shouting” put down, which to a large extent must he the case when the bars are- c’osod. Although the colonial drink bill is increasing, the amount consumed in every No-license district has largely decreased, We have now twelve No-license electorates to‘watch between now and tin next election. There nil be no lack ol evidence to show whether No-license k a success or not, and every eleptoi ought to keep his eyes open and not he misled again by the loud assertion; of the trade. Gisborne, alas, will havt to submit to three years of wasteful ex penditurc, amounting to little, if any thing, short of £300,000 for the threi years, a large l part of which niigh have been' saved by carrying No-license. We shall have to look on at tlie sat wrecks of human lives which drinl brings to our Courts week by week, an< we shall have to bear the shame of feel ing that many a home will still, h blighted, which might have been rend ered happy by the removal of one grea source of temptationßut the bitte lesson of our defoat is Novembei wil •v .iot be without its value, if.it arouse Ns from indifference and selfishness t I Njnorc than we havo vet done to cair ! tbiWh this reform which will, I oi lioVeNriiig lasting-benefit to our chile rbn aiiCKchildron\s children. Tlie anfKal re]>ort'“and balance-shoe were read the treasurer (Mr- I Mqrice), showN- the balance on 31 March, 1908, to have been £29 8s 7( and the cash reCoivod '£7o9 Is Ud, mal ing a total of bursements had been £770 3s lOd, lea 1 ing a credit balance of £SB 6s Bd. The adoption of the report was move by Mr. A. Graham, seconded bj v M F. Stafford, and carried. After the election of officers, the Rc J. A; Locbore gave a very interestir address. He said it gave him gres pleasure t-o speak to the Gisborne N license League. Til tlie .south good i \ ports had been given of the work tin 1 were doing. He luid heard .that •Gi i mm mBiM

methods should bo used, arid that efforts should bo mado in rescue work. It had been said prior to the election that continuance rested with the licensed victuallers, but owing to tho way they conducted their trado a newspaper in Christchurch had said the trade was doomed. But he thought the chairman had struck the keynoto of tho position when he said the No-licenso pebple would have to organise; and it was by thorough organisation that the day would be won. It' was also necessary to go in for special workers, and judging by the treasurer’s report and the way the money liad come in, it' should not be difficult to find good workers.; It had been noticeable in their meetings in the south that tlie people who formerly looked askance at the movement were the people who were joining their ranks, and were assisting them. The petition that had been introduced during ftast session on the three-fifths majority. was brought forward for the purpose of educating the people. lhe people should be taught that tho movement was both a moral and a leligious movement.. . - A number of communications noni the New Zealand Alliance were read, and it was resolved that Messrs McLeod and S. East represent the Gisborne League at the conference to be held in Christchurch on Juno 10. During tho evening refreshments were handed round by tho laches and after an address by the Rev. W. Lamb, the meeting was brought to a close.

THE CONDUCT OF NEXT CAMPAIGN. The question of the method of conducting the next no-license campaign was raised ad the annual meeting ot the No-Lioense League last evening. Before the ordinary business was commenced, the Rev. W. Grant said that many members had felt that too much publicity had been given to the! method of conducting the last campaign, with the result that® their' opponents were made aware of all that was going on. The trade, on the other hand, observed secrecy, and ho moved that in future the business meetings be in committee, . and reports supplied to the newspapers. The Rev. W. Lamb seconded the motion, and said he had some proposals to put before the League which ho would not care to ho published in the papers. Ho recognised the fact that the press had given valuable assistance in the last campaign, but he agreed that the business meetings' should be hold in . committee. The President, the Rev. h. W. Cliatterton, then put the motion, winch was carried almost unanimously.