LECTURE BY REV. W. THOMPSON

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 573, 18 November 1902, Page 3

LECTURE BY REV. W. THOMPSON

AN ANTI-r> RO n m ITIO NIS T

rbc Theatre Royal was filled overflowing lasi; evening to hear the lecture iri opposition 1o Prohibition delivered hy the Rev. W. Thompson, of Scots’ Church, Wellington. • His Worship the Mayor presided, and asked that a patient and attentive hearing ’should the given to the lecturer. ’I lie Rev. W. Thompson, on rising to address the meeting, was received with much applause, fie prefaced his remarks hy stating that he well understood in coming to (iishornc that party feeling on Ihe quest ion was cunning very high, and he therefore urged that the audience should endeavor ’to lake a dispassionate view of the arguments against Prohibition, and decide accordingly. Making a personal explanation he denied that there was any truth in a report which had gained currency that ho had been kicked out of the Presbyterian Church gt Palmerston North, lie had some time hack resigned his pastorate (here, and whon ho had received tho sum cf .1:70 rom his congregation in the way of the usual acrid off. Many of his former parishioners had subscribed the sum of ■Cl7!i for his new church in Wellington, and whenever 1 they visited the Umpire City they always caino to see him. The rev. gentlemen then went on to speak against prohibition from the individual nud political points of view, and in an able speech, lasting upwards of two hours, brought forward many arguments against prohibition. JIo strongly urged the necessity for temperance and moderation in all affairs of life, and quoted many illustrious men whose writings were in this direction, but who at tho same time discountenanced anything in the nature of reforms by com pulsion or force. JIo quoted l)r Rule to show that whilst it was a sin to drink to excess, it was not a sin to drink in moderation. If a man thought he wus tho better for drink he should have it, hut if bo deemed it wiser to ab stain from spirituous liquors ho should bo allowed to do so. The lecture) quoted Mr Chamberlain as being against all oxtremo measures such as piohibition. It a man thought ho could serve God hy taking drink in moderation ho should follow Ur Ualo’s cxnmplo nnd take if, The rev. gentleman severely den umced drunkenness in any shape or form, arid urgod that instead of offenders being fined 5s and costs they should he subjected to flogging and other forms of punishment. Tho Rev. Thompson also expresssed his abhorrence of swearing, and stated that since his arrival in Gisborne ho had heard swearing in tho stteels, which was most obsoono, and should not bo tolorated. Ho did not believe that any gentleman would swear in tho presence of another

gentleman. It only betokened an empty mind and lack of conversational powors. (Applause.) f’assing on, ho again referred to drun ltonnoss, and contended that every man must bo hold responsible for his own wrong doing, and his acts could not bo visited upon his brother. Quoting freely from Messrs Itowntrcc and Shtrwcll’s book, the speaker showed the failure of Prohibition in Maine and other States in America, pointing out that in all eases where it had boon introduced it had led to a great increase in drunkenness and in tho quantity of liquor consumed. lio said that in Portland, tt small town which was under Prohibition, tho arrests for drunkenness were -I'd por 1000, whilst in New York they were only 17 per 1000. Die number of saloons in the prohibited States wore given, and also tile quantity )f liquor consumed, 2000 barrels of beer boing consumed in Portland in one year. Ho denounced slygrog shops, and stated Shat onco a man got accustomed to frequenting thorn he wont faster to tho bud than ho would if he visited tho hotels. Ho admitted that prohibition bad been a iuccess in somo of tho small towns in America, but those wore always places shut wero closely situated to largo centres, mil people could get what drink they required. Prohibition, lie contended, created iisrespoct, irrevcrancc and lawlessness, mil in all States under prohibition in America this unenviable stato of affairs jxisted. Ho strongly advised persons who ,voro voting prohibition on account of tho monopoly in tho trade or other reasons rot to do so, but rather to seek some othor reforms, contending that prohibition must ilways necessarily bo a failure becauso it aecessitated force being applied. It was ilso a failure becauso it was not backed up iy public opinion. Continuing, Mr L’hompson criticised the remarks made by iho Itov. J. G. Paterson in sovoral letters which had appeared in tho Gisborne ruins of recent dates, and at somo length showed that thero was no analogy between iho tiger that Mr Paterson desired to chain ip and tho drink truffic. There might bo tome danger, bo said, of a wild tiger springing at a man, but who over saw a narrol of beer or a bottle of whisky spring at a man or forco itself down his ihroat. (Laughter;. Tho speaker quoted ;ho remarks of Sir Michael HicksBeach to show that it was unreasonable to prohibit tho manufacture or consumption of liquor because a few persous went to excess. He thought it was pleasing to notice that drunkenness was decreasing in England, and that temporanco and moderation were being adopted. Ho asked how it was that whilst ministers preached against drink they wore prepared to tako contributions from those engaged in tho sale of it. This was not, in his opinion, consistent. Passing on, Mr Thompson, made a strong appeal to tlie audience to treat tho question on broad lines, and to advocato true temperance reforms on the lines laid down by the AVuiapu Temperance Reform League. Touching on thu subject of prohibition iu Clutha, the speaker said that whilst ho was prepared to admit thero had been an Increase in tho population during recent yoars, as well as in tho capital value of tho district, thero hail not boon anything like tho progress and prosperity that had existed elsewhere. lie quoted Hr Findlay a candidate for a Wellington seat, to show tho advancement tho colony had mado since 1894. Another instanco of the failure of prohibition in Clutha was supplied by a candidate, who was standing for that electorate for Parliament, and who had stated : "The prohibitionists nadclosed tho hotels, and in their places they had eighty slygrog shops. (A voice, “ Question.”) Drink was retailed by pedlars, and sold by hawkers, and could now ho procured from every butcher and baker boy.” The lecturer at some length shewed what a dismal failure prohibition had beeu in Mildura, and gave the opinion of a gentleman who was at present visiting Gisborne in support of his contention. Ho hold thero was moro sly-grog soiling and more drunkenness in Mildura at tho present time than there was before. Mr Thompson went on to show what Gisborne would be like if prohibition wero carried, stating that it would bo pretty much the sanio as in Mildura. Men would get a lot of drink in on the Satuiday, and would drink all day Sunday. In conclusion tho speaker said that that law was best that was best administered, and it was safer to have a law regulating tho control of the sale of liquor than to have a number of places which could not be kept under control. If they had prohibition tho young men would be subjected to worso temptations than they were at tho present time. Speaking on the subject of the reforms necessary iu tho trade Mr Thompson strongly advocated the abolition uf barmaids and the necessity for the host ales and spirits being sold. He also said that prohibition failed because it- was an attempt to force. He quoted tho experiences of tho celebrated John Calvin in support of the latter argument, and cave many other illustrations of a similar character, including the position taken up by Cromwell's Ironsides. Ho could, if necessary, give dozens of instances to show why forco failed. It was an appeal to Caesar instead of the One greater than Caesar. (Applause). He quoted Byron at length to tho same end to show that Vykcro the passions and inclinations of tho people were concerned the law was a secondary consideration, and that men could never be mado sober by Act of Parliament. The speaker likened tho prohibitionists unto tho Mahommodens, stating that the latter would reasonably have been expected to have had a high code of morality, seeing that their re igion forbaie them to touch liquor, bo yet they found them guilty of most cru and barbarous acts. They were rabid fanatics, afld in no wy proated by thou, abotm.

once. It was argued that if they abolished the sale of drink working men would be better off, but this was not so. They could see how this argument panned out when it was seen that the working men of England, Ireland, and Scotland were ten times better off than the laborers of Italy, Spain, and Portugal. He deemed the abolition of barmaids imperative, and held that every effort .should also be made to raise the age of consent. Young men under the age of 21 should not be allowed to e/iter an hotel. There v. gentleman drew a picture of an ideal public-house, which he said was under the supervision of a clergyman, fn this house none but the heat of spirits and beers wore kept, there was strict regulation, and drunkenness was never known.

Mr Thompson closed his address with a strong appeal to the audience to vote against prohibition, adding, “ As far as the history of the world has shown, force or compulsion never succeeded in any shupe Or form.”

The speaker, on resuming his seat, was loudly applauded.. A number of questions having been asked and satisfactorily answered, Air \V. L. lteos proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer for his able address. Thu motion was carried with acclamation, and the meeting dispersed.