New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5080, 5 July 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1877.

We trust the attempts now being made to form a Working Men’s Club in Wellington will meet with success, as we believe such an institution would be beneficial both to health and pocket of the people frequenting it, and would—to use a rather hackneyed phrase—tend to elevate them in the social scale. The subject has been referred to by us in a former issue, and the arguments which have been used from time to time in favor of these clubs have been so often repeated that they have become stereotyped, and it is needless to go over these again in detail, but we may say generally that in our opinion all that had been said in favor of these clubs applies with especial force to this city. Here there is a large number of artisans and laborers, for the most part earning high wages and in almost constant employment. Many of them are single men, living in crowded dwellings and uncomfortable lodging, from which they are glad to escape to the public-house, which is their only ‘ ‘ club ” as matters stand here at present. Now, we. are not amongst those who regard public-houses as unmixed evils, nor do we look upon a licensed victualler as a person necessarily licensed to rob and plunder his fellows, and to destroy them body and soul; but at the same time we cannot but think that many a working man who now spends all his evenings at a public-house, almost of necessity,, would gladly spend a portion of his spare time at a club were one established suited to his wants and means.

Some difference of opinion appears to have arisen here on the vexed question, whether fermented and spirituous liquors should be sold on the premises. In our opinion it would be a great mistake entirely to exclude them, as a very large number of people who would otherwise gladly become members of the club would, be prevented from joining. To the great majority of people a glass of beer and a pipe are almost a necessity, and we can see no good reason why these articles should not be supplied. A man would not, however, be obliged. to use them whether he liked them or not, as he is almost obliged to do in a public-house, and the teetotaller of course need not, and would not indulge in these “ vanities.” We do not think it at all likely that this would lead to drunkenness; for it has not done so in Dunedin where this system is adopted, and where the Working Men’s Club has proved a great success. It really seems surprising that such a large and prosperous town.as Wellington has not, long since, had such an institution in its midst; but now that a movement has at length been made in this direction, we trust its promoters and the working men generally throughout the city will not let the idea fall through, but will see that it is carried out. The clergy and other gentlemen who recently held a conference to take into consideration, amongst other things, the best means of promoting temperance and morality, and of weaning people from drunken habits,, will do well to give their countenance and support to this undertaking, for it is one that unless we are greatly mistaken, will do more to promote these laudable objects than any other scheme that can be devised. Wo have very little faith in

the efficacy of any restrictive Acts of the Legislature, for laws which have not the people at the bottom of them are practically inoperative, however skilfully drawn. Cheerful and attractive working men’s clubs will do more to lessen the drinking habits of the people, of which much is said, than any number of Local Option Bills, and other ‘crude and unworkable enactments of Parliament,