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"READY TO
FIGHT"
M.L.A. and Lord
Mayor
At an enthusiastic meeting of
nearly 3000 people In Melbourne
Town Hall last night, Mr. : Ed
munds, M.L.A. (Lib., Hawthorn)
answered the Lord Mayor's chal-
lenge to make public statements .
he had made earlier "under the
privileged shelter of the Legisla
te Assembly,"
He said he had spoken in the
Assembly with reference to a
statement by the Lord Mayor that
certain results would follow "when
licensing laws are altered." Mr.
Edmunds then quoted what he
had said In Parliament hi reply
to the Lord Mayor.
To the accompaniment of
cheers he went on "If' the Lord
. Mayor wants a fight I am ready
to- give it to him — and others
with me !"
He strongly urged renewal of
Local Option which had been de
feated in 1922 "against the wishes
of the majority."
Dean Langley, chairman of the
meeting, said that If the Lord
Mayor had been mistaken In what
he had said, "it was dangerous
that a man In such a high posi
tion should be giving out . anti-
temperance propaganda."
Dr. N. J. Burgess giving "A
medical .viewpoint," described al-
sohol as "a harmful narcotic and
a destructive menace to the
human body."
Mr. Hamilton, M.L.A. (Lib.,
Toorak) said it was . high time
leading public men came on to
the platform to demand investi
gation into existing liquor laws.
"If we are unable to stir the
Government into action," he
said, "then let us have an all-
party committee to deal with
the liquor question."
Rev. H. Palmer Phillips de
claimed brewery ownership of
hotel properties, and forcing pri
vate 'publicans into serving after
hours to keep in business.
A collection of £127 3/ was
taken.
$