CHRISTCHURCH TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1026, 9 October 1877, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this society was held last night in the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street. The Rev. H. Wilkinson occupied the chair. An interesting address was delivered by Mr J. T. Smith on “ Temperance Benefit Societies.” The lecturer is well qualified to speak on such a subject, he having been District Secretary for the Foresters and has also held a like position in the Order of Rechabites. Quoting from the reports of the United Kingdom Temperance and General Provident Institution, which has separate tables for abstainers and non-abstainers, he showed that the lives of abstainers are 261 per cent, better than those of the non-abstainers. Contrasting the published reports of the M.U.1.0. of Oddfellows with those of the Order of Rechabites for five years from 1868 to 1872, he showed that the average sickness per member per year was 13 days 3 hours for the Oddfellows, and only 3 days 12 hours for the Rechabites, the sick pay being 12s 8d as against 5s sd. The death rate for the Oddfellows was 1 in 51 and for the Rechabites 1 in 155. Comparing the returns for tho year 1875 of the Foresters and Rechabites lie showed that the Foresters sick pay was 12s 3d and funeral pay 3s 9d per member per annum, while Rechabites sick pay was 6s Dd and funeral pay Is Id per member per annum. The onlystatistics which related to New Zealand that he could show were those of the district of Nelson, where in 1876 the average sickness among tho Foresters was 6 days per member, and among the Rechabites 3 days per member. These facts, which could not be disputed spoko for themselves, and form one of the strongest arguments in favor of temperance. The address, which was listened to with the greatest attention, was followed by a song from Mr C. M. Gray and a recitation by Miss Cutler. A vote of thanks to the lecturer and the chair--53»a closed tho Proceeding®.