THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.

Kumara Times, Issue 1577, 17 October 1881, Page 2

THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.

At the District Convention of Representatives of the various lodges of the Good Templar Order, held in the Kumara Lodge on Saturday evening last, Mr Richardson Rae, of Hokitika (who was present with various other delegates from the southern lodges), made some remarks, at the close of the business, with reference to the Temperance question generally. He urged unity amongst the members; and referred to the want of unity, in some lodges, as the cause of their retrogression. Small and trival matters had too much importance, very frequently, attached to them ; and differences of opinion on many subjects were unnecessarily the cause of strife and unpleasantness, If they would all resolve to extend the utmost toleration to all shades of opinion—always provided that it was honest —he felt sure it would be for the general good of the Order. Speaking of the aspect of the Temperance question in connection with the coming elections, Mr Rae said that since he had entered the room more than one sincere and earnest man had asked him how it was that he came to sign a requisition in favor of Mr Reid standing for Hokitika ? Mr Reid, as they all know, did not go very far with them j and had given some votes on the Licensing Bill, which had greatly displeased some of them. And it was generally known, also, that Mr Reid and himself had not been the best of friends for a considerable time. Nevertheless, when he was asked to sign a request for Mr Reid to stand, he did so, at once. Why 1 Because Mr Reid had consist ently supported the Liberal party in the Assembly, and that was the only party the general result of whose policy would confer benefits on them, either as Templars or colonists. He felt sure of this, that that if they advanced the Liberal cause generally, they were at the same time helping on the Temperance, and every other cause, having for Its object the good of humanity. The other side were a selfish party merely a party whose endeavour was ever to aggrandize themselves, and to grasp everything for themselves. Nothing to advance Temperance, or to do the slightest direct good to men outside of the ring composing that select circle was to be expected, nor was such indeed possible.