THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1802, 29 November 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1879.

The apathy of the working man of Christchurch to hia own interests is somewhat surprising. More than six months ago when the difficulties encountered with regard to the unemployed were at their highest, we drew attention to tho establishment of Working Men’s Clubs in Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland, and to tho good they were effecting in those cities. In Dunedin the leading citizens had taken a warm interest in tho movement, had assisted in fairly placing the institution on a good basis, and had contributed towards its funds. In the above-named places there existed establishments where the rational amusement of men after their day’s work was provided for. It was possible for a man in tho evening to seek tho society of his fellows elsewhere than in a public house. It is evident that the gain to tho community at large by such a possibility must be very considerable, Tho temptations to spend earnings in drink are greatly lessened—tho rules of such clubs strictly prohibiting drunkenness—men cannot but be bettered mentally by tho friction of social intercourse with humanizing surroundings, and besides, affording a nucleus whore all may congregate, tho true calibre of tho individual is more easily discovered and, when a crisis occurs, tho main body are not so easily thrown into tho power of the frothy demagogues who rise to the surface on such occasions and take tho lead because there happen to be none

to whom the masses can look with any degree of confidence. Since wo last wrote upon the subject the movement has been spreading, and in other than the principal towns wo find these institutions being placed on a satisfactory basis and being well supplied with members. Wo have before us a notice by a contemporary on the Wanganui Working Men’s Club, and the picture drawn is so pleasant that wo cannot refrain from giving it in detail: — “ The Club rooms are situated upstairs in the City Hall, which has been altered at considerable expense. The Hall itself has been fitted up as a billiard room and contains a now table by Alcock and Co., Melbourne, which is pronounced by players to be an excellent one. From the billiard room a half-door opens into the bar, for the convenience of thirsty players; and on the other side of the bar is a room comfortably furnished, in which English, American, and colonial illustrated and other papers are filed for the use of the members. There are also cards, draughts, and chess. Chairs and tables are plentifully supplied, so that those who wish to read aud those who wish to enjoy a quiet game do not disturb each other. The bars open into this room in the same way as into the billiard room. The next room is provided for teetotallers and is furnished in the same manner as the first one, and with papers, &c., but in this room no intoxicating liquor is allowed. The bar is in the middle of the building, and is well supplied. It is open on three sides, and the active custodian, Mr. Anchor, has sometimes enough to do to supply the wants of his customers. The Club is supplied with every convenience, and is thoroughly well lighted with gas, Mr. Horn having carried out his contract in a very satisfactory manner. The rules of the Club are very stringent as regards intoxication and gambling, for any member who is known to bo intoxicated or who plays for money in the building will at once have his name struck off the roll. The Club is only kept open until eleven o’clock at night.” That an institution founded on such good principles and carried on so satisfactorily should be found in a small town like Wanganui, and that Christchurch should not possess anything of the sort appears an anomaly, and does not say much for the energy of the Christchurch working man or for that of those individuals who profess to lead the van in the direction of social reform. The public house reigns supreme in this city, and to all appearances seems likely to do so for an unlimited period. At intervals speakers ascend a public platform and bewail the existing state of affairs; they develop elaborate statistics with regard to the amount of money expended per head on ardent spirits; the audience cheer and treat the said statistics as if they referred to the Choctaw Indians and not to themselves; and then the excitement subsides, and the publican pockets the working man’s earnings and rejoices with an exceeding joy. Now this is not at all satisfactory. Why is not some energy in the matter displayed ? On all hands it is agreed that the formation of a Working Men’s Club would be a stop in the right direction. Ask the wives and mothers, and see what they would have to say on the subject. And not only for thoso men who now spend too much of their money in the tap-room would such an institution be desirable, but others would find in the reunions which such an institution would render possible an agreeable relaxtion after working hours. A centre could be found where the scattered ideas on various topics would meet and produce, it might bo, valuable fruit. Unfortunately in Christchurch the “ temperance mania” has unwittingly done a considerable amount of harm in this direction. The total abstainers are, no doubt, a very worthy body of men, they mean well, and their views must be looked upon with respect. But they have succeeded in splitting the forces of those whose object is the social improvement and comfort of the working man. The Temperance Hotel was, at one time, considered to be the institution that was to work wonders in a certain direction. But where are the palatial walls of this establishment ? The Christchurch larrikin plays cricket on the site and the promoters are still arranging preliminaries. And this is not to wondered at. Any concern of such a character is formed on too narrow a basis to embrace the support of the whole of the working class. The total abstainers among the working men are not so numerous that they can of themselves maintain a comprehensive institution. Human nature is human nature, and the greater number will not be dictated to as to what they are to eat and drink. Strict rules with regard to temperance must of course be enforced in any successful club ; they are, indeed, one of its raisons d'etre: but its main objects are the social comfort and improvement of its frequenters, aud not the promulgation of any theory, however worthy, viewed abstractedly, such theory may be.