CANTERBURY TEMPERANCE LEAGUE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1494, 29 November 1878, Page 3

CANTERBURY TEMPERANCE LEAGUE.

The inaugural meeting of the proposed Canterbury Temperance League was held last evenin the Provincial council Chamber. There was a very la'ge attendance of clergymen and the general public. i m the motion of Mr Twentyman, seconded by Mr George Booth, the Rev. C. Pras.r took the chair. The proceedings were opened by prayer by the Rev. Mr Horner. J he Chairman said it would be his business to state how the present movement had originated but he would leave it to others to explain the d tails. The meeting had had its origin at a monthly meeting of ministers, who felt that by basing the movement on divine grace and Christian principles, it could be more successfully and satisfactorily carried out. There would be this advantage, that the Church would act, as a bond of union bet ween the teetotallers and the temperance men. It would be a matter of great importance if the income derived from the sale of intoxicating liquors were s t ag inst the sums that were required for the suppression of crime and the relief of poverty, so that the facts could be fairly seen as they really existed. They were told tuat nine-tenths of the crime and poverty were due to intemperance. 'J hey would thus have in a tibular statement the figures set down as derivable from intoxicating drinks, a,.id, on the other side, the amount required for the repression of sin and the relief of poverty caused thereby. It was said that, if teetotalism were the rule there would not be a sufficient revenue to meet the requirement- oi the country ; but the economy shown in other ways would make up for that. lie looked upon this especially as a question in which woman was particularly interested. Jf they were to have their Bands of Hope recruited, they must look to the mothers and sisters of society to work the desired improvement. uefore concluding, he would read an apology from Mr Stout, to whom as a member of the Government they were indebted for the use of that h 11. [Applause.] The letter from Mr Stout stated that he totally abstained from tasting intoxicating liquors, although be belonged to no society. He was sure that for any one who had to grapple with hard work and worry there was nothing like non intoxicating drinks, i ho past session showed that the abstainers were able to do more work than those who drank intoxicating drinks. [Ap plause.J He did not think that they would be able to ra-s such a Bill as that which he had introduced until there was a great change in public feeling. Ho beloved (continued the letter) that the hereditary taint from father to children did not receive sufficient attention at their hands, and if he had been present he should especially like to have addressed a few words to them on that subject Ho should always do his best to promote temperance, even though he might lose lus political power or influence through it. Mr Stout, in conclusion, stated that the reason ho could not attend was in consequence of being engaged in the Court of Appeal, Wellington. The chairman likewise read an apology from the Very Bov. the Dean, who was not ab'e to bo present in consequence of having another engagement. The movement, however, had his most earnest support and sympathy. [Applause j Mr Saunders, M.H.K., moved the first resolution, and spoke at considerable length on the evils which attended the use of intoxicating drinks, which evils had been greatly impressed upon him for a period of forty-seven years, during which time he had been a teetotaller. He certainly was very much surprised at the want of success which had attended the temperance movement of late years and ho was very sorry to say that the sale of intoxicating liquors in the old country was verj much on the increase, especially among women. It was a fact too of which he had lately been apprised, that when there was a wish ou the part of the temperance people to got a representative into the House of Commons ho was kept out by the violent opposition of the licensed victuallers. After being for forty-seven years a teetotaller, it was not a cheerful prospect to find that legislation to provide t p cl, -tali*m only had the (fleet of rising up a violent opposition which did more evil than that which it was intended to abate. The res -lotion which had bon placed in Ua hands was the following: ~“T ha

whereas the evils of intemperance seriously affect both Church and State, it is expedient that a Canterbury Temperance League be now formed, which shall act mainly through the ministers and mem tiers of the several con grega ions of the Christian Churches throughout the provincial district.’’ The Kev. Mr Morley seconded the motion, and said there could be o doubt that the action of some of the various teetotalers did more harm than good, for he had found that very often moderate drinkers had received more Otaine than the drunkards themselves The formation of snch a society, which proposed to include both abstainers and non-ab tainers, was therefore in his opinion a very wise thing. It h;d been asked why they did not try and form a League for the whole of New Zealand. Simply because Canterbury was not the whole of New Zealand, and Canterbury people were proverbially modest. The causes of intemperance, he thought should secure more consideration than they did. In the large towns of England, and in the villages, indeed, there were many causes which they ought not to have in a new colony, but which, he was sorry to say, they had. Still, the New Zealanders horn wore not given to drink. It was the importations from England who were the great drunkards, The amount of drinking which took place in the colonies was enormous. There could be no doubt there were openings for a society such as this, as well as societies for total abstainers. He considered the que-tion of hereditary taint was one that played a most important part in the great evil that existed. The evil was greatest where there were the most facilities fo" it, and on this point alone the League could be of immense benefit There were a great number of what were called hotels in Christchurch, which were neither more nor loss than dnnki. g shops, which the League might do something to put down. [Applause ] Ihe speak r spoke very strongly against the Sunday trading, which, he stated, existed in New.Zealand —a desecration of the Sabbath which might be put down or abated by this society, and which, he trusted, would receive vigorous support in Canterbury, and extend throughout the whole of this colony. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. The Rev. Mr Macfarlane moved the second resolution, and referred t a the fact of the approaching visit of the Hon. Mr Fox and Mr Jago, the Worthy Chief Templar of this island. There might then be a conference, which would lead to the formation of a society similar to that of the United Kingdom Alliance at home. For some years he hud felt the necessity of such a society as this, which should inclu e abstainers and non abstainers. There were, he was sorry to say, societies of men who lived by the promotion of the drinking customs, while the society which they now sought to form would tend to its diminution. There was a good time coming, but they could not hope to do altogether away with hotels at present. There could be no doubt that there. ar too numerous temptations held out to people to drink. He instanced the case of a brewer’s agent, who came touting to him to sell a keg of porer, hut the man had come to the wrong place t j do business. Stid this was one of those temptations which were held out to the people. He was sure no Christian man would stand up for the continuance of places for drinking solely. The rules of the Association contemplated the services of a legal gentleman, to serve the same purposes for the league that Mr Thomas served for the Licensed Vi tin Hers, and they might obtain a gent eman in < liri-tchnreh who would act in sympathy with the society aud its objects. They would never get any amendments on the present state of things till tin y had a very strong public opinion to hack the efforts of their temperance men in the House of Legislature. The following was the series of resolutions which ha 1 been put into his hands : “ That the rules below be adopted as the general basis of action of the league. ’ “1. The diminution of the number of houses licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors. ‘ 2. The suppression of such houses as exist mainly for the sa'e of intoxicating liquors, and which do not provide efficient accommodation for travellers and lodgers. “ 3 The rigid enforcement of the present law prohi fiting all Sunday liquor traffic, except for the supply of refreshments to hand fide travellers or lodgers.

“4. The endeavor by legal proceedings or other means, to prevent the increase of licensed houses, except on petition of a majority of bond jida residents in the locality for which such license is sought. Such petition to be presented with plan of proposed house, and to contain addresses as well ms names of petitioners. “ 5. The establishment of Bands of Hope in connection with the various churches throughout the province. “6. The establishment of Branches of the League in connection with churches and generally throughout the province. “ 7 By public meetings, the use of the Press, petitions and other means, the formation of and fostering an enlightened public opinion by which the course of legislation on this subject may be rightly directed,” The Hev. .Mr White supported the resolutions moved by Mr Macfarlane, which were put and carried unanimously.

Mr Ceorge Booth moved the n°xt resolution as follows That the como ittee of management of the society he as follows: President, Rev. C. Fraser; vice-presidents, Kev. H. 0. M. Watson and Mr Alfred launders, M HR. ; secretaries, Revs. J. Macfarlane and R. Waddell ; treasurer, the M ayor of Sydenham; committee, Revs. White, Morley, i allaston, Keast, Fisher, and Elmslie, and Messrs J. T. Brown and 0. W. E’ngland, with power to add to their number.” Se onded by the Rev. Mr Waddell, who stated that he had received a letter from the Rev. Mr Elmslie, expressing his hearty concurrence and sympathy with the object of the movement. The motion was put and agreed to. The Rev. Mr Macfarlane moved—“ That the thanks of the meeting are duo and are hereby accorded to the members of the General Government for the use of the Provincial Council Chamber on this occasion.” Seconded by the Rev. Mr Morlcy, and agreed to. The usual vote of thanks to the chair concluded the proceedings.