AUCKLAND WORKING MEN'S CLUB

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 72, 25 March 1878, Page 4

AUCKLAND WORKING MEN'S CLUB

The Governor, at the opening of the Working Men's Club, said that the institution was one which, if properly managed, wes calculated to add greatly to the comfort of the working men of Auckland. He had no hesitation in oaying tbat New Zealand was the country of all he bad ever visited which held out the most, promising hopes to working men. With the resources of the colony they need not be afraid that employment would be scarce in our own or our children's time. There were no real class interests to hinder the progress of working men. He admitted tbat some men in New Zealand had become rich, but, generally speaking, this bad been accomplished in the first JdBtancej by the sweat of their brow, by industry, energy, and talent. In the early stages of the colony's progress, when settlement was sparßeand population scarce, men could make fortunes more quickly than at a later stage; but they must remember that the early settlers often encountered difficulties and dangers which meo at the present could only regard with horror and dismay. Any immigrant arriving now might by energy, perseverance, and thrift, in a few years become the employer of labor No one could look at the statistics of intoxicating liquor consumed in New Zealand without being convinced that this quantity was in excess of actual requirements. There was nothing which stood more io the way of working men than the fatal tendency to drink. He believed that working men's clubs were calculated to remove temptation. He did not believe that men could be made sober by Act of Parliament, though headmiied the determiu- j ation and energy of the total abstinence societies, and believed that they hud done muith good. He hoped they would do more good yet, but he did not believe they adopted the best means of combatting the evil. Man was a gre- j garious animal, and wished naturally for eDJoyment end recreation. If he did not stay at home he had the choice between the street and a public house. The street was not comfortable, and if it were to rain, might be disagreeable. If be entered a public house, a working man naturally did not like to take advantage of it without oontribut ing to the expense, therefore be called for something and his friend did the same. Thus men were led into drink. The club would advocate that evil. Members could drink or not as they pleased. He hoped that any man who appeared in a state of intoxication in that club would forfeit the good opinion of hia fellow clubmen. His Excellency referred to Mr Sheeban as an example of the facilities for working men rising to the highest position. He did not think the phrase " working men" was wide enough. Evsry mun worthy of the Dame of man should be a working man. The richest man in the land, if he performed his duty, had to wotk, and be was not sure that a man working with his bead was not often the harder wotked of the two. He referred to the antagonism between capital and labour in England, but hoped it soon would cease. He compared capital and labour to the Siamese twine: united by a band, whioh, if cut, destroyed the life of both. The Governor was frequently cheered during his Bpeech.