WORKING MEN'S CLUBS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11480, 13 January 1903, Page 3

WORKING MEN'S CLUBS.

.«. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—The Hon. C. Louisson and Mr W. W. Collins should know better than I ihow to guard tho interests of the liquor traffic, but I should have thought that in these days, -when that traffic is very much on its trial, it would have been wiser for them to merely express their own appreciation of working men's clubs, without indulging in contemptuous references to those who regard these institutions -with disfavour. nUiey both assumed tlliat the critics of clubs had never been inside one, and knew nothing of their (workings. Mr Collins said those critics did not want to know, and w.ere governed only by their prejudices. May I assure Mr Collins that some of us xery much .want to know all that we can, and Lave been at great pains to discover the whole truth concerning them. For my part, I have even been at the .pains to publish, fifteen or twenty of their ■balance-sheets, and specially noted that the Sydenham Working (Men's Club spent in 1892-3 less than £10 on literature and £587 on liquor. In 1896-7 they increased their expenditure on literature to nearly £26, and indulged in over £1443 in liquor. A Wanganui Club in six months during 1900 spent £19 on its library and £2764 on liquor, while the JJapier Working Men's Club in 1895-6 were extravagant enough to disburse nearly £150 on literature and only £5665 14s Id on liquor. I ihave visited several of these institutions, sometimes by invitation, and, as my visits ihave always been friendly one 3,. I ihave never published a single line concerning anything that came under my notice, but I should have been very glad if Mr W. W. Collins had been in my company on the iast occasion, and I had been able then and there to ask him what he honestly thought of the effect such an institution, could have on the men, especially the young men, frequenting it. As this question is one that affects the interests and happiness of some thousands of homes in this colony, I am prepared to gather together details of the cases that have come to my knowledge- cf 'men that have become utterly degraded, some who have lost tlhoir lives, ai;d of homes that have been made desolate as the direct result of the institutions defended by the .philanthropic Messrs Louieson and Collins. In order that there may be no question as to my willingness to accept a verdict that is not biassed by strong prohibition sympathies, I am willing to submit the decision as to whether I have proved my case to his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch and the editors of the two morning .papers, if imose gentlemen will accept the task, in what I believe to be the best interests of the public—l am, etc FRANK W. ISITT, Secretary N.Z. Alliance, Christchurch, 10th January, 1903. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —In your issue of to-day, Mr Louisson, in speaking at the Sydenham Working Men's Club, is reported * to have said: — " Those who criticised clubs were individuals who had never been inside a. club, knew nothing of their working, or the purpose? for which they were established, or all the benefits they conferred oa their members." There is a large cWs, who, if not personally possessed of all the knowledge indicated by Mr Louisson, yet know, o::ly too well, something of the working and re suits of such clubs, and their criticism i« very strongly adverse to such institutions. I allude to the wives, and, in some cases, the mothers of club members. Let Mr Louisson go and ask these women—and I hold them good judges—what these benefits are that the club confers. I reckon he would come to some knowledge that at present he doesn't .seem to possess. He would karn that the large sums spent every year in drink in these clubs means so much less comfort, in many ca.«es so much less necessaries in the home, so much less chance of a day's outing, rest and change, to the over-tire 3 'and overworked wife and mother, so much less pleasure to the little once, so much less chance oi th« bright ones being helped onward and upward. He would also find that the loving care and companionship that a. father should give his boys is not theirs, when the father avails himself of the purposes and benefits which Mr Louiseon mentions, but fails to describe (by the way, he might tell us what they are), and because of that loss of parental control and help many boys go wrong. I would also ask Mr Louisson to go to some aged mothers and enquire if his much-lauded club has made her boy more regardful of her comfort, more anxious to brighten her declining years, more careful to relieve her failing hands of the work that is growing too heavy for them. A tree is known by i its fruits, and when Mr Louisson can prove that men are made better husbands, fathers, sons, and citizens by membership in a drinking club, he will have proved that his commendation of each club is disinterested. At present, considering his occupation, I should take it with a grain of salt, and be more inclined to accept the testimony of women who have ample and frequent opportunity of testing the result* of such L'lube upon their homes and men folk.* Mr Louisaon would be much surprised if he knew the unanimity and strength of their criticism and condemnation. Trusting he will endeavour to enlarge his knowledge in the direction I have indicated. —Yours, etc., A WOMAN. St. Albans, January 10th, 1905. Not a Minute should be lost after a child shows symptoms of cholera infantum. The first, unusual looseness of the bowele should be sufficient warning. If immediate and proper treatment is given, serious consequences will be averted. Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy is the sole reliance of thousands of mothers and by its aid they have often saved their children's lives, Ivvery household should have a bottle at hand. Get it to-day. It may save a life. All dealers. Price Is 6d and 3* WkilKM and Oβ., Triftogk, mS *.