TEMPERANCE HOTEL AND WORKING MAN'S CLUB.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1387, 26 July 1878, Page 3

TEMPERANCE HOTEL AND WORKING MAN'S CLUB.

A meeting of the commitee and representatives of friendly societies in furtherance of the proposed Working Mtin's Club and Temperance Hotel was held last night at the City Council chambers. The Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch presided, and the following gentlemen were present:—Mr Parry and Mr Cooper (Oddfellows), Mr Phipps (Foresters), Mr Clifford (Orange Society), Mr Allison (Dauntless Lodge, 1.0.G.T.), Mr Webber and Mr King (Ever Faithful Lodge I 0.G.T.), Mr Jones, secretary (Hope of Chrißtcburch Lodge 1.0.G.T.), Mr Smith (Eechabites), Professor Bickerton and Mr Bennetts (Southern Cross 1.0.G.T.). The Eev. H. C. M. Watson opened the meeting by stating that he had sent circulars to the different societies in the city, and had received replies from Mr O'Connor, on the part of the Hibernian Society, and from Mr M'William s,on the part of the Protestant Alliance, promising to lay the circular befor the societies at their next meetings. The circular asked for answers to these three questions—"l. Is it desirable to establish a Temperance Hotel in Christchurch? 2. If so, how many shares (£1 shares) will your society take ? 3. Would a Working Man's Club be supported in connection with it?" The circular further stated that the amount proposed to be raised was £7OOO. The object of the meeting was to draw up a prospectus for circulation amongst the public. The Chairman having requested those present to give the views of the society they represented as to the proposed institutions, Mr Parry said the Oddfellows were in favor of both, but unconnected with temperance principles. Mr Phipps said that the circular had been laid before the Court Star of Canterbury, and resolutions had been carried affirming the desirability of forming a club on the open principle. Of such a club they would take many shares The representatives of the temperance bodies were unanimous in insisting that the proposed institutions (which they considered extremely desirable), must be conducted on strictly temperance principles. The minions as to the probable financial success of the club appeared to be divided, whilst all agreed that a temperance hotel, properly conducted, would pay, the only question to be debated being the amount of capital which should be sunk in its establishment. Mr Cooper gave the meeting information as to the system upon which a Working Man's Club had been conducted in London. The subscription was very small, but the revenue was supplemented considerably supplemented by a small charge for the use of a bagatelle table, by entertainments given by a debating society connected with the club, and by lectures to which an entrance fee was paid. The Chairman said that no doubt the hotel to be established must be on strietly temperance principles. He himself and Professor Bickerton had been in favor of the Working Man's Club being conducted on the open principle ; but from all he had heard at that and the previous meetings, he had come to the conclusion that if the dub was to be successful it must be in connection with the tempgrance hotel. Professor Bickerton had understood that it had been resolved that the principle upon which the club was to be conducted was to be determined by those who undertook its management. His experience proved conclusively that no club could ba successful in which it was not optional to drink non-temperance liquors. Of course they would be supplied only to members. In the Southampton Club, of which he had had some two or three years' experience, and which was not a temperance club, not a single instance of drunkenness had occurred. He believed that its working had proved very useful to the temperance cause. Such a club he was anxious to see established in Christchurch, though he was afraid that public opinion was not yet sufficiently in favor of it to warrant him in hoping for its success just at present. With regard to the hotel, it was very probable that it would be found to succeed.

Mr Parry believed that the bringing together the moderate drinkers and the abstainers in a Working Man's Club would have the effect of lessening the drinking habits of even the moderate. He thought the temperance bodies were too exclusive. Mr Bennetts replied that the Q-ood Templars as an organisation could not adopt half measures, or countenance drinking at all. \

The Chairman asked the Q-ood Templars whether it would be consistent with their principles to support a Temperance Hotel where no intoxicating drinks were supplied, but which was connected with a Working Man's Club where intoxicating drinks could be procured only by members. Mr King, with whom the other representatives of the Good Templar Societies fully coincided, replied that they could not countenance any institution in which the exclusion of intoxicating drinks was not a fundamental principle. Mr Parry moved—" That in the opinion o£ this meeting the establishment of both institutions, namely, a Temperance Hotel and Working Man's Club, is idesirable, but in coosetjuence of the opinions expressed by

temperance representatives present, that each institution should be established on a distinct basis."

Mr Phipps seconded the resolution. Mr Smith moved the following amendment —" That in the opinion of '•■hia meeting it is desirable to establish a Temperance Hotel, and any Working Man's Club established in connection with it must be on distinctly temperance principles, namely, that no intoxicating liquors be allowed upon the premises." Mr Bennetts seconded the amendment.

The amendment was carried on the voices,

The chairman considered that the meeting had done a good deal of work, as they had laid down a distinct basis upon which operations could be carried on. He thanked the gentlemen present, in the name of the committee, for their attendance. A vote of thanks to the chairman was then carried, and the meeting closed.