The Evening Star SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2184, 7 May 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1870.

We do not know that there was anything new in the treatment of the temperance question by Mr Fox last night, but it was at any rate free from much of the rant of bigotry. It was a pleasant and sometimes piquant resume of the stock arguments on the subject, with some lively additions of his own illustrative of the evils that, abstractedly, all acknowledge are inseparable from the prevalence of indulgence in intoxicating drinks. It is something new, but not the less gratifying, to find a man in Mr Fox’s position, who has the courage to stand up with the eyes of a whole country upon him, to advocate a doctrine that is sneered at by thousands and practically disbelieved by the majority of the community. Yet none will deny that there is great need of reform in the drinking habits of society. There is so much goodfellowship in the Colonies, that it unfortunately happens many of the most estimable and pleasant men allow themselves insensibly to slide into intemperate habits thi’OUgh sheer inability to resist the importunities of their friends. We do not know that Dunedin is worse than other

places in the Australasian Colonies, yet we venture to assert there is not a merchant or tradesman in the City that has not suffered through the extravagant expenditure incurred by servants or customers induced by the “ shouting” system. Young men find homes and companionship at hotels, and the frequent cases of embezzlement and other shifts to get money that come under the cognizance of the magistracy, show the consequences. Those who like ourselves have to employ a large amount of labor, soon learn how difficult it is to secure the services of those whose tempeiate habits rendered them really reliable and trustworthy ; and how much more confidence can be reposed in men v> ho are total abstainers, or at least who never allow themselves to be seduced into excess. It is most certainly true that in the majority of instances in which men fail to secure for themselves a competence in the Colonies, it is owing to indulgence in drink. Miners have been known to waste capital that, rightly invested, would have made them independent for life, in a week or a fortnight. Shepherds have drawn a. year’s wages, and never rested until everv penny was gone in riot and drunkenness. These have gone back to their poverty and their work without material damage to any but themselves. They have had their wild debauch, lost their time, and transferred that capital they had no idea how to use ; but it is a different matter with the majority. They find regular employment for a while at fair wages. With ordinary care, were it not for the drinking habits of society, they might lay by something yearly that would provide capital for profitable investment as opportunity offered, and thus in a few years they would themselves become employers of labor and independent of the world. We are glad to say there are many who thus lay the foundation of their fortunes, and it would be better for the world and for themselves if all could, by denying themselves what can as a rule do them no good, keep that end steadily in view. Looking at this question in a purely economic view, this excessive drinking- is a serious loss to society. If it is pointed out that large capital is invested in breweries and distilleries, and that these employ a vast number of hands, we grant it. But we apprehend the fallacy of the argument that underlies this reminder is the idea that employment would be reduced were there fewer breweries and distilleries in existence. But the reverse of this would be the case. The capital thus invested would be diverted into another channel perhaps not less profitable to those now engaged in those trades, and those employed would find other engagements free from drawbacks. Drinking habits are a loss to the country in a variety of ways. The workman who drinks not only spends money, but he ceases to earn it. It is not the mere amount he pays for his nobblers that he has to calculate, but how much he could have earned during the time wasted in drinking them, and how much more he could have earned had it not been for his aching head and palsied hand through their effect. We apprehend it is almost impossible to estimate these. In a Northern paper some witticisms were indulged in at Mr Fox’s expense. It was shewn that as one of the Executive lie was advocating a course of action that, if adopted, would deprive the Colony of its chief source of revenue—rather a flippant way of dealing with a question in which the happiness, prosperity, and morality of the country are so largely involved. But there cannot be a more severe condemnation of a system of revenue than that which makes its amount dependent upon the prevalence of a vicious habit. But even as a question of revenue the objection is absurd. Mr Fox shews that including the Maori population, the total cost per head of strong drink consumed in the Colony is greater than the amount of taxation per head, and when loss of time, cost of crime, and the maintenance of lunatics and paupers through drunkenness are added, it will be seen that it would be easy and profitable to raise the revenue supposed to be abandoned, with great profit to the community. The economic view is, however, the lowest that ought to be taken. There are the higher considerations of the effect of abstinence upon the morals and intellect of the country, and the fact that in proportion as these are .fostered, the power, influence, and happiness of a community increase. The subject is one that is absorbing increased attention at Home, and we trust that not the least advantage from Mr Fox’s visit will be to draw attention to it here.