THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1882. THE “STAR” AND LOCAL OPTION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2517, 3 May 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1882. THE “STAR” AND LOCAL OPTION.

The great champion of local option and making men sober by legislative enactment —the “ Star” —has found out at last, what we have been urging for a. good while, that local option is not an unmitigated blessing. We can well remember the burning words poured forth in the leading columns of our contemporary as to the great privilege, &c. But now the note is altered. The erstwhile i champion not only seems to believe that i it is not the thing that was expected, but goes farther, and absolutely makes the statement that the introduction of local option will, in one borough at least, cause a very large increase of expenditure. Wa were scarcely prepared, in dealing with ' the absurdities of local option, to find so able an advocate on our side as the “ Star.” Nay, it has even gone far beyond what even we should have thought of urging. According to our contemporary, up to the advent of local option, the borough of Sydenham was a pattern. No good boy, as depicted in tho'goody--1 goody style of literature, was ever so irreproachable. Nine thousand persons, safe from the disturbing influence of local option, slept peacefully each night, secure in the knowledge that Sergeant Brookes, the one representative of law and order, was awake. It required then no large force, the one constable being sufficient to terrify all wrong doers. In the words of Artemus Ward, “All was peas.” But in an evil hour the demon of local option was let loose amongst this simpleminded, happy and contented people. They had been told by frothy orators of the severe temperance sehool that, arcadian as their lot was, and blissful beyond that of the residents anywhere else in New Zealand, though they celebrated their municipal feasts in bileproducing cordials and ice-cold water, there was crumpled rose leaf in their couch. They had not got local option. This was all they required, and then indeed Sydenham could look down from a proud eminence on all the world. In an evil hour the people listened to the voice of the tempter, and behold the result. Wa are told by the same journal, which has so often painted in glowing language the delights of a temperance village like Sydenham, that the first result of local option is an immediate necessity for the increase of the police force. Had wa said this it would have been regarded a a a weak invention of the enemy, but coming from the “ Star ” no one will doubt it for an instant. We condole with onr friends, the temperance advocates, on tha result which has attended their fight for the coveted privilege of local option. They have got it, and not only do they not seem to like it, but they make it perfectly clear to everyone that it is a national burden, inasmuch as local option and increase of crime-repressing agencies are synonymous. The “ Star ” has said it, therefore wo cannot but accept the mournful fact as being too true. STREET PREACHING. With every respect for the motives which prompt persons to stand forward as street preachers, there can be no doubt of the fact that such gatherings are a direct incentive to larrikinism, and a public nuisance. Nay, we will go farther than than that, and say that so far from advancing the cause of religion such exhibitions as wa can witness of a Sunday evening in Cathedral square, simply result in quite a different way. It is not as if there wore not ample means provided for all who desire, whatever their sect or creed may bo, to attend a place of worship on Sunday. Thera is perhaj sno place of its size where so many churches, chapels, and meeting houses exist as in. Christchurch. There is room and to spare for all who may want to attend, and therefore from this point of view thesa open air services are simply unnecessary ; and far more than this, & disturbing element in onr midst. Of course it will be answered that tha people desired to be reached are those who wilL

not or do not attend church, but wo ask any sensible and unbiassed person whether such disgraceful exhibitions as weekly take place, are calculated in any way to advance the interests of true religion. We aver that they do not, and that, on the contrary, they are calculated to do a vast deal of harm. It is not only that they congregate together all the larrik'us within reach, but the stylo of the whole affair is such as to make one grieve that zeal should be so misdirected. No harm will result from the stoppage of these so - called services. Indeed, we believe, a groat deal of good will come. The noisy, jeering crowd which on Sunday nights disturb the city will then have no reason or cause to assemble. Wo hope, therefore, that the authorities will prevent any repetition of the scenes which, for several Sundays past, have been anything hut reputable.

OUR STREETS,

We called attention the other day to what was likely to occur with reference to the streets during the winter season, and we feel certain that after the rain of the past two days our readers will agree with us as to the necessity of something being done. The rain we have had has been nothing beyond the ordinary autumnal character, and yet the streets are perfect mud lakes, especially outside the block. It has happened exactly as we pointed out. The inches deep of dust loft by the contractors in place of the road metal has bean converted into mud, and even with the slight rain which has fallen, the streets are to some extent almost impassable. What their condition will bo after a three days’ sou’-wester is far too terrible to contemplate. As wo have had a preliminary experience, perhaps ear City Councillors will take the hint and carry out the work as suggested by us. If the Drainage Board, aa has been broadly stated, have by their operations seriously damaged our streets, it is time they were called to account and made to replace them in the condition they were before the works were undertaken. At any rate, whoever has to bear the cost, something must be done, and that quickly, or the streets outside of the business portion of the city will be entirely impassable.