DISTRICT NEWS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 August 1911, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

EVENTS IN SHANNON

(Chronicled by our Resident Representative.)

MR VENN ON THE LIQUOR TRADE.

Mr Venn's discourso was reported in our issue of yesterday. Alter he bad concluded Ins address the (Society debated the whole subject. Mr Millan said Mr Venn had delivered an eit'ectivo speech. State control of liquor would put more Government vassals into force. Ho thought state interference had increased gambling. Ho agreed with Mr Venn's view. .livening entertainments, in tho way of pictures had done a great deal of damage to the liquor tra:!e. Hu thought suitable imlor recreation would go a long way towards a solution. Mr ■)'. Potterson (of the local league), said he was taken by surprise by tho way tho subject had boon brought down. Ho anticipatod to have heard something of tho Gothenburg system. In tho system there, was no "self-interest. Yet this system was wot what it was expected to bo; drunkenness was increasing more in Sweden, than before- tho iiumguration of tho system. The. Convention held at Stockholm was of opinion that is was a most drunken town. The proceeds of the profits went to support charitable institutions, and through the system this was enormous. His nativo country, ho said', was being ruined by it, and he would bo very sorry to see this country follow it. Mr Saunders gavo Mr Venn credit for having mado such an ablo speech, and he did not think it right to accept profits from vice to make recreation grounds. The reason that tho Drink Bill increased was on account of the better spending power of tho people. It was not sound logic to say that we should not carry out reform because someof the people were against. On this ground slaves would not be released. He was going to think for himself. The "Gothenburg and Swe-denborg systems had been a failure. "Where the law was not properly earned out, prohibition was a failure. From a physical point iof view he did not agrco that •alcoholic drink aided on physical development. Ho illustrated this very forcibly.

Mr Clayton remarked tlinfc he didi not agree with Mr Venn's contention. "If you get drink into the blood you will always get it." (Laughter). He contended that tho fact of the State owning the hotel would assist on increasing drinking'. He thought eradication was the only cine. Tlie speaker read the rhetoric of Lincoln on the traffic. (Was warmly applauded , ).,

.Mrs Murdoch (who on rising was accorded an ovation), said she. agreed with Mr Venn in so far as his schemewould bc> an improvement on the present system, but she- contended that inasmuch «s alcohol was a poison which created an appetite for itself, and acted on tlio .brain centro in .such a manner that the victim lost, his self control, and further that alcohol had no nutritive powers a.s a food or beverage, it was useless and pernicious and ought to bo suppressed. Mr Ritchey quoted the extraordinary statements made by Prohibitionists. He followed up the financial position to show that when tho Drink Hill was low, the unemployment was greater than before. He thought it was .a delicate thing to tell a man what he should drink. Impure milk killed more than drink. He qu'oted figures to prove tin's. More were killed in following their occupations in Great Britain than by drink.

' A visitor to the gathering stated thnt lie hod listened, (lint night to one nf the best addresses he had PA'er listened to. This was, the ago of reason. We had a right to use. the taient God had <j;i"on u= . The. Prohibitionist should remember those outside of the Ohuroh. TTe advocated abstinence but not force. Ho thought Mr Venn was on the right track.

Mr Gundy said he thought Mr Venn had mad-. 1 contra statements in his address. He mentioned, in support of total abstinence, that the Government had reduced the premium on life iii--ii;::H\"\ 'I he speaker dwelt stron-ily on the effect of drink on young men leaving home, and the temptation of the. Herniation of companions in being led away into habits of drinking.

Mr Enstwor;d :— Ho thought the lines advocated by Mr Venn was the right way. He did not claim it to beT perfect, but, when started, it could be improved us they went on. The incentive to profit was thewhole trouble. The convictions _ for drunkenness were not true indications of the amount of drink consumed. He was sure, from information read and the other system, thivt theGothenburg system had done a lot in the way of sobriety in. Sweden. Mr Law was in favour of Mr Venn's idea. A complete prohibition was not in existence. _ He gave some ins tan cos in a prohibition area of how whiskey was doctored and distributed. If we were, to have drink analysed it would bo of better quality, and would not be so pernicious.

Mr Gibson, who said it was his first appearance in public, remarked that it was an interesting subject. His opinion was that drink traffic "downed" the business men, and it was true the business man "downed , ' tho drink traffic.

Mr Maiden said he came as a listener and a learner, but the subject was so interesting he could not keep out of the war. The arguments used by Mr Venn appeared to be very plausible. His application of athletics to depend on the liquor traffic for recreation grounds was severely, though humorously, handled, ilo gave an illustration showing how tlie man on the water diet overcome the man on the liquor diet. He dwelt strongly on the financial position of taxation on liquor, how that drink should pay for tho keep of tho" wrecks. Mr Maiden gave a very eloquent oration. He will certainly be a valuable addition to the society. His (humourous anecdotes brought down tho house.

Mr .Tud'l .void lie went n Ion,"; way with Mr You)). He, like him, was trying to find a. solution, but ho ctiiild »r;fc Tollou" Mr Venn's contention tlmfc the profits should go to the people. This would increase the. ovil, ps tlio profit ti!x> State derivrd would !ip ■an incentive to continue 1110 traffic. This wa.s the state of affairs that prevailed in Russia.

Mr Venn briefly replied. He hoped that no one would think lie came here to advocate drink. Oil the contrary he wanted a proper scheme tn deal with the matter.

A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Venn for his very able address was carried by acclamation FOOTBALL. The return match, the Butchers v. the Grocers, was played yesterday afternoon. Mr W. Moynilian acted' as referee, and Messrs Kennedy ami Putty fls line umpires. Putty, who is a native of. adipose proportions, appeared to reap the most enjoyment from the game. Tho game was played in three spells of fifteen minutes each. Tn tho first spell Bovis made some good runs, but "had no luck, being brought to eartih on one occasion by Fordo when within a. few inches of tho goal lino. Tn the second spell the Butchers played vigorously, and kept the ball in the Grocers' quarters. After several

unsuccessful attempts Armstrong (Bntclior) landed safely ovor the wocefs' line, and secured a tiy. -in the kick Prosser failed convert. This was the first score Hook: foi the Grocers gave valuable assistance to Forbes and Thomson ami it seemed for a time as if the, Groco™ would even things up, l>f ] > S :J > a smart run, placed the Butchcis out of danger. The second spoil ended with no further scoring. In the third spell which was a rather tame ono, the Butchers managed, to roach the vicinity of their opponents' quarters. Tlio Grocers acted on tho defensive and managed to hold their rivals in check for a considerable time, hut hy perseverance the .Butchers pushed their way bit l)v hit till tho lino wns reached. Bovis at last was awarded a try, hut Martin who hiad the kiclc failed to put the leatlicr over the bar. This brought the score: Butchers, fi; Grocers, 0. In a few minutes the whistle soumlod and the game ended without alteration of the figures. Thus the Butchers triumphed over their opponents, hut in justice L o the Grocers it must ho smd their best players had not rolled up and one of those playing was not well. For the Butchers Armstrong, Bovis, .Martin. Kins. Batemnn ami Prtosser played well, and for the Grocers, Forbes, Hook. Thomson .and Rewi Moynihan were always in the front. On both sides there was tho improvement that passing was freely exercised and combination was more in evidence than on previous •■!- sions.