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NORTH WALES TEMPERANCE FEDERATION.

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NORTH WALES TEMPERANCE FEDERATION. CONFERENCE AT COLWYN BAY. 4 WELL-KNOWN SPEAKERS ON THE L!CENSING BILL. IADY HOWARD AND SIR T. P. WHITTAKER. ADDRESS A LARGE AUDIENCE. (The annual conference in connection with I the North Wales Temperance Federation was continued at Oolwyn Bay to-day wc.ek-the first day's proceedings were reported in our last issue—and though there was a little rain about mid-day the weather remained tolerably favourable, though' it was much cooler than on Wednesday. Thursday's proceedings oommenced with a prayer meeting for men in Engedi Chapel at 9-30 a.m., under the leadership of the Rev. iThos. Lloyd, Cohvyn Bay, and another for [women at Horeb Chapel. At 10 o'clock Sir Herbert Roberts, the presi- lient of the federation, presided over a confer- ence at Engedi. After prayer had been cffuroo by Dr. Hugh Bones, of Bangor, a hymn, "Marchog lesu yn Jh^ddianua," was sung. THE PRESIDENT'S DISTINCTION. .The Rev. Canon ROBERTS, vicar of Oolwyn [Bay, followed at onoo with a motion that the federation congratulated its President most iLeartOy upon the honour recently conferred upon 'him by the King. Both Sir Herbert and 'Lady Roberts, he wo, had fulfy deserved their elevation. He (tha Vioar) felt personally very fflad of it, and as a resident of Uolwyn llaky he couldi assure the meeting that all sections of the community had a very high opinion of Sir ^Herbert- He had given many years of service ?to hia county, and unless he (the speaker) ware Vfreatly mistaken, the great charactt ristis cf Sir (Herbert's political life was that, while Le had tried to elevate his country in a material .wanse, he had oonoentra more of his atten- tion upon and appeared to be more in his ele- ifaent in furthering the oause of the higher, the .moral and spiritual side of life (loud applaus-3), tAs. temperance advocates they could net help Wang grateful for the distinction conferred "upon Sir Herbert, for it bad been largely made jfoy reason of his untiring efforts on behalf of Bfcheir own great cause. In and out of time he ffliad worked zealously for tomiperaric?, and he • fCknon Roberts) could not hplp thinking h3 'boulù detect in the present Licensing Bill marks jtof his influence—(hear, hear)—in the clause Pwhich compelled the Sunday drinker to walk Bonger distances for his liquid refreshments, for instance (laughter). In oonolusion, he could not Jbut express the hope that Lady Roberts real- ised that she had personalty done a groat deal [toward? ensuring the dristinction which 00' h her ladyship and Sir Herbert now enjoyed (loud applause). Rev. R. ROBERTS, of Rhos, seconded, and Irr,niarked that the elevation of Sir Herbert and ■Jjodv Roberts had given the whole of Wales iin.s; .■oakable pleasure- The motion was carried with a hearty dicer. Sir HERBERT, in acknowledging, said he felt sincerely obliged to Canon Roberts and the R. Roberts for the very kind words jpoken in connection with that resolution and {With the small share he had had in public mat- pars. He did not know how toi thank them; his jheart was too full for words. vYhenever he pon- 'dored over the matter ho could not help realis- ing the value of the work accomplished by his Hate reve.red father—(applause),—and he only boped he and Lady Roberts would continue to Shave the necessary strength to follow in the old paths which they had so tar walked, thanks to the noble influence of those who had "gone -before" (applause). IHOME RULE FOR WALES IN LICENSING ADMINISTRATION. Proceeding, Sir HERBERT said the North ;W ales Temperance Association had already ren- jidered valuable service to the life of YVal s. It shad kept for many years before the public the jjtruth that temperance was a movement which gem,ande-d a wider outlook t-nan the village, Stown or country. Year after year it had gath- tered together temperance reformers from all Mparts of North Wales for the purpose of emphas- ising this truth and the fact that the conditions [fend circumstances of Wales demanded special tiernl)eran,ce legislation. Similar work had been |also accomplished by the South Wales Terriper- 'juioo Association, arid the fruit of their united Efforts in this direction was to be seen in the ifepecud provisions for Wales in the Licensing oi the Government. As to the future, they [would continue to press these points, keeping ffcheir eyes fixed upon the goal of self-govern- tfcnent for Wales in the sphere of licensing ad- iteanisfcration (hear, hoar). The/ were detcr- Srained also to take steps which would enable I Shem through the machinery of their organisa- to weld together &11 the temperance forccs pf North Wales (applause). A very little re- ion would show the essential importance of Securing an effective temperance organisation pn every Parliamentary constituency and every jpounty council area in Wales. In view of cer- tain developments along the rood of local self- ygovemment in the future, it did not need the (eye of a seer to note the imporlanoa of tli-oe pensiderations- They also thought it essential that, the executives of the North and South JWales organisations should meet together from [famo to time for the purpose of considering 8. ytion for Wales as a whole. Lastly, it waa their Jtlesire to break down, as far as possible, the ^middle wall of partition of sect or any other Slistinotion in temperance work. Their cause mhoiJd be a great unifying* force, and a per- Mpet.ii.al reminder that, whilst pursuing different thods, they were marching towards the same goal; and, in his judgment, they ould not iexpeefc a full measure of suoooss ujK>n their (.efforts until^ this essential truth was reongnised. ff>eahng with the Lioansing Bill, he pointed out 9ehat they were met at a most important junc- fturo in the liistory of the movement. That jTP £ iasuro was to them the all-absorbing q'les'ion. flits introduction was. in his ODinion. t!»e | tPRAVEST AOT OF MODERN POLITICS. The Government were fully aware of tJe j#xorm of opposition which would inevitably be Aroused, bat they had put the good of the na- ifcion uefore political expediency, and in so doing" .(b:u:l already received liberal support from many gvh. were opposed to them in general policv- tfhe Bill had been an eye-opener in many direc- tions. It had revealed on the one hand the £ fcrue nature, spirit, and purpose of the forces Jarrayed behind the drink trade, and on the jother hand it appeared to them to be indiffer- ent and materialistic in public life. At the pre- '13ent time the conscience of the nation was p.walvc to a moral issue. The question was often tasked what would be thet fate of the Bill in the Houoo of Lorda ? He thought the Bill would pass, for he did not believe that the influences, tWhose real nature and purpose had been ro- pealed in the campaign against the measure, pouid be victorious in the conflict. He was not in the habit, as they know, of reing- str ng Slanguage or taking* extreme views ijipon any question, but he was bound to say ithat in contemplating the power of evil and the [fchare which drink had in its production, he iUionght it a strange fact in the twentieth cen- £ pty, and in that democratic age. that they « -Cft ^ace even with the possibility Ej the rejection of such a measure as the Licens- T? an horedjtary and irresponsible As- not> however, for them to meet £ iffiinitios half-way. Their immediate duty was, Jby all means in their power, to show the Govern- toratUmtttejr hearts were set upon the passage f the Bill into law (applause). Dealing with ríhe special provisions for Wales inserted in the ill. he reminded the Conference that their (Association bad for many years voiced the opin- ions whiob bad taken shape in the separate lenses for Wales inserted in the measure. Those .Clauses meant not only a great opportunity but a jfereat responsibility for tho people of Wales, and Ll* "r^ent necessary, without a day's dcl.tv, rd in every district throughout the Principality, prepare the people for a full and effective ex- ffercise of the special powers conferred upon tl:f I the Bill (hear hear). In conclusion, he sai °f the development ijerf Welsh life m the future. They saw the cau.se sjfcf elementary education, freed from the strife ijftf politics, resting on tho heart, of the people, [land the conditions of rural life made more at- fcractiro through wise and just law and legis- lation. They looked forward to the time when a full measure of local self-government would enable their people to develop qualities which would make the power of Wales still more felt in the life of the world. But was it. not abso- lutely clear that not one of these ideals could be reached, or at least be fully achieved, until a mastery had been obtained ever the tyranny of drink? (hear, hear). They would face another year of work with hope and confidence, for they knew that their cause had behind it an infinite power and an unchanging purpose set upon the redemption of the race (loud applause). TEMPERANCE EXAMINATION. The Rev. ROBERT ROBERTS (Colwyn Bay) submitted the report of the examiners in the temperance examination, which was as follows:— Senior Division: Equal 1, Grace Roberts, Cwrny- glo, and John Williams, Corwen; equal 2, Maggie Griffith, Cwmyglo, and Edward M. Foulkes, Acrefair; 3, Eliza M. Davies, Holywell; 4, Annie Ll. Humphreys, Beaumaris; 5, Robert Parry, Holywell. Second Division: 1, R. R. Williams, Penrhyndeudraeth; 2, Rosie Jones, Treuddvn; 3, Esther Evan3, Bethel, Acrefair. Junior Sec- tion Equal 1, Jane Griffiths, Nerquis, and W. A. Griffiths; 2, Robert Evans, Ganllwyd; equal 3, W. O. Evans, Llandrillo, Corwen, and lorwerth Roberts, Acrefair. The Rev. R. ROBERTS spoke most highly of the successful competitors. Nevertheless, the examiners were somewhat disappointed at the number of candidates. In 1907 they numbered 170, but in 1908 only 74. TEMPERANCE WORK IN WEST DEN- BIGHSHIRE. Mr HUGH EDWARDS (Rhyl) gave a very in- teresting resume of temperance work in West Denbighshire. He said the Association had not been successful in closing many public-houses, but it was certain that it had been the means of preventing the opening of new houses. If the temperance cause would not receive that atten- tion it deserved in every locality in the division, the fault did not lay with the Association, be- cause messages were frequently sent to stimu- late the churches. The Board of Guardians in the country had now realised that it was not fair to send boys nor girls from the Workhouses to the service of publicans. That was, no doubt, a step in the right direction. Mr Edwards referred to the decision of the. Rhyl Council to apply for a licence for the Pavilion, and re- marked that when they found that the applica- tion would be opposed, the Council had aban- doned the idea, and a victory was thus achieved without a shot being fired. THE SECRETARY'S REPORT. The new SECRETARY (the Rev. GLYN DAVIES, of Rhyl), who was accorded a warm reception, said he had no formal report to sub- mit inasmuch as he had only taken up his du- ties two months ago. But, he had found al- ready that there was great work to be accom- plished, and great need for organisation. He received applications for his services from all parts, and so far a.3 it was practicable, he intend- ed to do all he could to meet the wishes of all, and to devote the whole of his services to or- ganisation, so as to make the meetings of the Association the most important held durin«- the year m North Wales. He appealed for the hearty co-operation of all, and was extremely glad to note that all the churches of Christ in the Principality seemed to be taking up the tem- perance movement in earnest, and that there were three clergymen of the Church of England present in that meeting (loud applause). MR HERBERT LEWIS ON THE LICENSING BILL, Mr HERBERT LEWIS, M.P., who had just entered in company with Mr Fred Home, the unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the Ludlow Division of Shropshire, amidst a rousing cheer, was prevailed upon to address the Conference at this point. Referring to the presence of a num- ber of Church of England clergymen in the meeting, he said it must surely rejoice their hearts to see that all branches of the Church of Christ were taking part in that Conference with- out a thought of sectional or denominational differences (loud applause). Referring to the Licensing Bill, Mr Lewis said: If there ever was a measure that deserved the support of every true-hearted citizen, and which was first and foremost for the moral elevation of his country, it is that Bill (applause). It is nob an extreme Bill; we are not asking for much. Many of you might think that it does not go as far as it should go, but in this matter we have to carry with us not only the body of total abstainers of this country, but also a very large proportion of the moderate drinkers, whose help is abso- lutely necessary to the success of the Bill (hear, hear). That is the reason the Bill has been drawn upon moderate lines. But it will secure at least two things: In the first place it will se- cure the substantial and continuous reduction of licences, and next, it will restore tq the magis- trates that discretion of which they were de- prived by the Act of 1904, and which had begun to be of such great value in different parts of tho country-particularly in cities like Liverpool where powers were given to a strong magisterial Bench by means of which they were able to effect a revolution in the moral conditions of the peo- ple, and that without unfairly interfering with anyone. This magisterial discretion the Bill pro- poses to restore (hear, hear). Continuing, the right hon. member said the Bill would also keep the children out of the public-houses. A census recently taken had revealed painful facts. For instance, no less than 169 children and 111 babies had been seen to enter one London public-house in the course of a single day-(' "Shame"), -and it the Bill did nothing else for temperance work it would at least stop that sort of thing (ap- plause). He was sincerely glad of the support which so many bishops of the Church of England rendered to that mon.sure -(applause),-and he hoped that when the Bdl came before the House ?l Z ll thT '^Mups would remember that, though they had the power to over-ride the de- cisions of the representatives of the people, there would rest upon them a tremendous responsibi- lu;y should they reject the measure. He did not wish to say that in any party sense, but as one who merely looked upon the Upper Chamber as one that essayed to act in a luriinml fnn.inifv (hear, hear). He hoped they would listen to the t n to the words of such men as the Bishops of London and Liverpool (applause). You are engaged, said Mr Herbert Lewis, in conclusion, in the promotion of the greatest cause, the cause that will bring with it a greater number of blessings in its train than all the causes with which our lives are associ- ated (loud applause). WHERE ENGLAND FOLLOWED WALES. Mr FRED HORNE also spoke briefly. He said temperance advocates would be merely reaping their just harvest if the Bill were passed. He congratulated the Free Churches upon the splendid way in which they had assisted the Government in that matter. Speak- lJfF AT n part V^les had taken in political affaire, Mr Home said Wales has always been ahead of England in moral issues, but England will como toddling along after you and have the option ourselves as to whether drink shall be sold on Sunday" (hear, hear, and laughter) Tito Rev. GRIFFITH ELLIS, MA Bootle, and the Rev. T. PRICHARD, rector "of Llan- fwrog, further addressed the meeting. TEMPERANCE AND THE YOUNG. rwo.'I. The Keetor ot LJanfwrog had been announced to move the following resolution"That we most earnestly desire to cali the attention of ministers, teachers, and parents to the need of more direct instruction in the meaning and value of sobriety and purity; that we ask the different religious denominations to pay especial regard to this in the Sabbath Schools and Bands of" Hope and the Public Authorities, including the Edu- cation Authorities, to arrange for this in the day schools; and that we petition the Government to press forward, and, if possible, strengthen the provisions in their present measures for the bene- fit and protection of children." As he had been obliged to leave the meeting before the matter came forward, however, hia place was taken by "CERNYW," who dealt with the subject at some length. He said there could be no com- plaint concerning unemployment in temperance matters, because there was an abundance of work f or all, .t J it behoved all who could to take p3.r in it. Mr R. PRYS JONES, of Pontypridd, second- ed the motion, in the course of a fiery speech, and "PLENYDD" supported briefly. Dr. CARTER, of Deganwy (formerly of Liverpool), also supported, and pointed out that according to the Registrar General's last re- turns, there had died from alcoholism in Eng- land and Wales 2231 persons, while cyrosis of the liver, also due to chronic alcoholism, had caused the death of 3861. It should also be borne in mind that doctors always considered that for every fatal case there were nine non- fatal cases, so that no less than 61,420 homes in that so-called happy land were daily affected by sodden drunkards. Moreover, one child almost out of every four born in this land died before it reached twelve months of age, and it should never be forgotten that a very large proportion of that percentage was due directly to drunken parents. They were frequently assured by their opponents that it would be impossible to make the country sober by an Act, of Parliament, but he argued that as long as the matter had not been put to the test, no such contention could be accepted. Ho would remind them that some years ago cases of arsenical poisoning in the country were very numerous, but since the sale of aisenio in the open shops had been pro- hibited by Act of Parliament, there had been only a case or two per annum (applause). Since steps had been taken to muzzle dogs, cases of hydro- phobia had fallen from 60 per annum to no cases during the last three years. Since Acts of Par- liament had been successful over those matters was it not equally possible that muzzling the drink demon would prove equally effective? (loud applause). He thought it was most unpatriotic and selfish to oppose such a measure as the pre- sent Licensing Bill, It was resolved, on the motion of Dr. EVANS, Bangor, seconded by Mr HUGH EDWARDS, to forward copies of the resolution to all public authorities, including the Local Education Com- mittees.

THE AFTERNOON MEETING.

. WOMEN'S TEMPERANCE UNION.

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. WOMEN'S TEMPERANCE UNION.