Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, SEPT. 28. 1899. Duty to Our Neighbour.

Manawatu Herald, 28 September 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, SEPT. 28. 1899. Duty to Our Neighbour.

It is a matter for much conversation and comment as to the large number of men who frequent the public houses on Saturday nights, and thus the existence of such houses is frequently condemned. There are always two sides to every question and however much we all may object to so much of the earnings of flaxmill hands being wastefully spent in liquor* we must on the other hand remember that only the publicans make auy effort to provide for the comfort and enjoyment of those who have been working hard and lonely, amongst the flax swamps of the neighbourhood) living in tents, and partaking of meals cooked rather hastily and of very much sameness ail the week through. It is but natural that men crave for a change for one day in the week, and having the money they go to the places where they can obtain it. Very tew enter town with the deliberate intention of getting drunk, though many get so accidentally and unconsciously. They take a glass for refreshment, they talce another for company, and they take another on meeting a pal they have not seen for iome time, and the heat of the room and the excitement of seeing so many around them, in such a contrast to the week gone bye, they become unfortunately unaccountable for their actions. We honestly believe that no publican desires to deal with a drunken man, as he is generally a nuisance in every way, though like all business people they desire to do as much trade as they can. Who is to blame for this state of affairs ? A great many people like to say the publicans are ! but is this fair ? They provide meat and drink, firing and lighting, and rooms for men to sit and play cards in, and rooms for them to sleep in. And who else does ? We have on very good iiithority that on ordinary Saturday nights there are between 150 and 200 men in town, and on pay nights from 300 to 400 men. Where are these men to go if the hotels are closed ? It is a reasonable instinct for human beings to seek company and to desire some amusement, and it is most unreasonable to attempt to debar them from it. Men do not want to perambulate up the street and look into the shop windows as a relaxation to flax catting or puntfng, nor do they all feel that a sacred service fills their retirements, so thus it seems to us there is a void in the arrangements of the town which very much needs illing. The views we are expressing have not the advantage of being new hs we wrote in much the same strain at the first boom ten years ago. To those who earnestly believe men should not pass so much time in a publichouse have the difficult task to propose some other means whereby they may reasonably, in their own fashion, enjoy themselves elsewhere. Our duty to our neighbour lies not in simply telling him of his faults but in doing our best to lead him into a different direction, and the only plan to accomplish this is to induce him to !:ake action with his mates to provide some other spot that shall give him the same freedom, the same conveniences that he secures at his club, which, for the time being, }he publichouse becomes. That very great good could '>c accomplished in this manner goes without saying had we a man in our midst who would use his time and influence in this direction. Every day sees the population getting larger, and thus every day makes the importance of some such action apparent, but we feel convinced that no proposal will be successful that has not the movement f rom the people most interested. We have thought of many schemes which it^is unnecessary to discuss until a movement amongst the employees in the flax industry leads to the outline of a club being formed. This need not however prevent anyone, holding with our proposals, from talking with those interested on the subject, when if approved a private meeting could be called and particulars considered.