LOCAL OPTION POLL

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 575, 20 November 1902, Page 3

LOCAL OPTION POLL

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wellington, last night. At the meeting of the Methodist Synod to day the following resolution on tem peranco was passed unanimously : “ That this Synod recognises with gratitude the Government's pronounced sympathy with temperance reform, which has for many years past characterised the Methodist Church as a whole. It rejoices in the evidenoo of the practical intcreit that is being manifested throughout our community iu relution to the approaching local option poll, and it expresses the earnest hope that in view of the great issues involved n,mibers of our congregations who possess the franchiso will be found voting in fav r of both no-licenso and reduction by striking out tbs top lioe.”

(Published by Arrangement.)

MISS BALQARNIE’S LECTURE,

A REPLY TO REV. W. THOMPSON. There WOB a crowded attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening, when Miss Elorence Bulgarnie delivered an address in favor of No-liccnso, replying chiefly to the remarks of the Rev. W. Thompson in his lecturo of the proviou3 Monday evening. Tho Rev. Chalterton presided, and bespoke fur the lecturer an attentive and patient hearing. Miss Balgarnio, on rising, was received with loud applause. She went straight to her subject, arid expressed regret that tiie Rev. W. Thompson hud not dealt with prohibition in Glutha and given his audience some information as to tiie beneficial effects, it had hud upon that district, instead of quoting so from Maine and America. “But Clutlia was too near for Mr Thompson,” remarked tiie lecturer, arid instead lie took you all round tiie world, everywhere except tho Clutlia. (Applause). The Rev. Thompson should have devoted his address to Now Zealand lor Nc-w Zealanders, rather than America for Americans, and should have been prepared to prove his case from Clutha instead of going so far afield. The Rev. Thompson had quoted tho arrests for drunkenness in American States under prohibition. But

what about Clutha, where it could be proved that drunkenness was unknown. This could not bo said for any other district in New Zealand. (Applause.) Having successfully disposed of the authorities quoted by Mr Thompson, the leeturc-r dealt witii tiie question of moderation. " What was the drunkard?” slu asked. Was ho nit an unsuccessful modorato drinker? No one set out with the iriten. lion of being a drunkard, hilt unfortunately what was modelation to one would mi prove modora'ion to anotlier. Coming to the main question, Mibh

lalgarriiu slated that AJr Toouipflon had

•limed his lauh lo Messrs Rowntreo and Shirwell's Look, and she proposed to remto bis statements fioin the very nook he had quoted from. It was apparent to anyone who hoard Mr Thompson that ho was a veritable tyro in the quesiou of temperance reform. He iiad quoted iiihoritie.-r without ever having studied hem. She would show them that if Mr i'lu/mpson had given them a fair digest of mis iamous book, tie would liavo been playing entirely into the hands of the iio-licenso party. She had laughed—it was enough to make a Cheshire cat laugh (laughter)—to see tiie huge advertisement inserted by tho Licensed Victuallers’ party, tolling tho electors to tako the advice of Rowntreo and Shcrwell rather than m take tiie unsupported statements of outsiders, She would givo them facts to show that if they took Kowntree and Sherwoll’s ulvico thoy would straight way all vote prohibition. Tho writers of tho book adnitted that prohibition was a groat success m places tho size of Gisborne, but not in largo centres liko London. (Applause.) In rural districts, prohibition was stated by thorn to bo a great success. She donied that prohibition had been a failuro in tho Stato of Maino, and quotod freoly from Rowntreo and Shirwell’s book in support of this, also giving instances of the increased prosperity in tho way of rude and banking deposits. The lecturer poiutod out that most of tho money sent out of Maino wont to Kansas, another prohibition State. Referring to Mr Thompson’s remarks about Ireland that a strong reaction followed the good work of Father Matthews, she said that had Ireland the power of local option there would have been no reaction, (Applause.) Commenting upon Mr Kohcre’a letter rcplyiug to Rev. Thompson’s analogical reasoning upon tiie subject of “ wino and women,” sho remarked : “It is tho mo3t manly letter that I have read in tho press since my arrival in Gisborne.” (Applause.) In regard to Mr Thompson’s statement tiie lecturer said : “ I have read of men

living in Hash society—men who spend their money in riotous living—couple together wine and women ; but such mon aro profligates. Such men are not true men who couplo wine and women togethor. God had made man and woman in His own imago, but sho had yet to learn that He had made liquor in His own image, In tiiis connection tho lecturer related a story as told by Mr Rudyard Kipling, and

vbioh led the famous writer to himself iccome a prohibitionist.

Coming to Cluthu, tho lecturer showed

that there had boon a groat increase in tho capital value of tho town, tho tradespeople were far moro prosperous, and tbero was no drunkenness. Upon tho question of sly-grog selling Miss Balgarnio quoted from police records to show that there was more sly-grog selling in licensed districts, where no spios were, employed to got coufictions, than there was in Clutha. Sho read a tclograiu from the Mayor of Buiclutha, giving an emphatic denial to the statement that drink was retailed by every baker or butcher’s boy in the district.

Passing on, Miss Bulgarnie replied to he remarks of Mr Thompson in regard to ,ae Muhommedans.

Dealing with tho drink bill of the United Kingdom as against that of America, tho lecturer showed that tho consumption of liquor in America was half what it was in the Uuitcd Kingdom, and this was a strong argument in favor of prohibition. Wherever prohibition had boon tried it was a great success, whilst in bngland or elsewhere wliero other systems had been tried these systems had provod dismal 1 mill res. (Applause). Tho lecturer showed that from tho working man's point of view, is well as from that of those engaged in trade, prohibition was beneficial. Coming to tho ltev. Thompson’s remarks in regard to tho abolition of barmaids, tbe speaker said: “Ho advocates that you should got rid of barmaids. Ask yoursolves, men,

why you should got rid of barmaids? Why do you not call on tho State to got rid of tho girls in the Post-offices, of those who servo in shops ? Why aro barmaids to bo abolished? You know very well that it is because of tho dovilish thing they sell. (Applause). It is not tho barmaids, it is tho drink.” Then Mr Thompson says that you do not want barmaids, but you want strong men, unquestionably strong men. Why do you want such strong men V The answer is because you want “ chuckers out.” (Applause and laughter). “You men laugh,” continued the speaker, “ but thcro is a deep pathos in it. You require brute forco in the man that serves out tho liquor.” 1 Speaking of the remarks of the Rev. Thompson m regard to raising the ago from 16 to ‘2l for which young men might be served with liquor, Missßalgarnio said: 11 Until a young man is 21 Mr Thompson would not allow him to have a drink in tin hotel. Ho must stn.nd outside,. find must not be allowed to indulge in drink. After paying a high testimony tc_ the selfrestraint and independent spirit that characterised the colonial youth, the lecturer added: “ J.f a thing is not fit for young men and girls between the ago of M and 21 it is not tit for men and women above 21. (Applause.) The lecturer at length held the rov. gentlemen up to ridicule, and kept the audience in continual laughter and applause by her satirical references to his knowledge of Rowntree and Shirwell's book. She pitied the clergymen because the only reform the Rev. Thompson had suggested was that they should htivo a model publichouse kept by a model clergyman, and she did not wish to see the rev. gentlemen submitted to suoh an indignity. She emphasised tho tremendous >uw»" tiuU prohibition had jn mat Gisborne, by reason of its | isolation, the character of its people, I and its efficient uolieo and magiste j rial supervision, was in every sense i most unique placo to give the system o trial. In Gisborne they had a grander op j portunitv to enforce the law than Cluthi 1 had, and" therefore she urged them to givi it a trial. In conclusion, Miss Balgarni made a strong appeal to the audience, am concluded, " Just try it for tho sake o tempted mankind, for tho sake of th young women, for the sake of the littl children whose destiny lies in your hand; whose future trembles in tho balance, ant who in thpir helplessness look up to then with unquestionably love. For the salt of tho children and their homes, >o should remember on polling day to strik j nit the c>p linn.” (Applause.) | The itev. J. G. IV.eisou invited qu:-.

•ions, mt ft nulei. that the itt.lriss I ;i' n t •’ Miss lj.-ilg ii lie hat been so c*•'i--1 h.live cli:it u one ' oulil be incl met ;o I ask any Questions. ije bat 1 , never ia bis

life been at so enthusiastic a meeting, and it augured well for polling day. The Rev. Mr Ciiatterton added a few words, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturesß on the motion of the Rev. -J. G. Paterson, tho audience being most enthusiastic in their applause. Miss Balgarnic suitably responded, and a voto of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.

(Published by tiie Gisborne Rechabite Lodge.