THE LOCAL OPTION BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5734, 15 August 1879, Page 6

THE LOCAL OPTION BILL.

One of the largest meetings that has ever been held in Wellington assembled at the Arcade on Monday evening, for the purpose of hearing addresses upon the temperance question and the Local'Option Bill. The chair was taken by the Ven. Archdeacon Stock, and on or near the platform we noticed the Rev. Messrs. Hinton, Williams, West, Paterson, Sir William Eos, Messrs. F. H. Fraser, Speight, and Woolcoek, M H.R. A very efficient choir, composed of members of the various temperance lodges, was located near the platform, and rendered a variety of pleasing selections at intervals during the evening, under the conductorship of Mr. James Godber ; Miss Fegan presiding at the pianoforte. The Chairman having addressed the meeting, called upon

Sir Wm. Fox, who made a lengthy and able speech. He spoke of the large number of public houses in the city, and also of the large number of people who died annually through the use of strong drink. Correct returns upon the latter subject were difficult to obtain, for people were often reported to die of other causes than through the use of alcohol. In illustration he said if a man while attempting to mount his horse white drunk fell and broke his skull, the medical certificate would be “ death from a fractured skull ;”or if a man went into a public-house and got drunk, and was afterwards found suffocated in the gutter, a coroner’s jury would return a verdict of “ died by the visitation of God.” He thought it ought to be by the visitation of the “ devil.” (Laughter.) He considered that quite 2000 people died annually in New Zealand, killed by strong drink. .There were 2200 drinldng shops in the country, and these could not be made to pay if people were not allowed to drink to ■ excess. But iu addition to those who were killed directly by alcohol, there were numbers who died through strong drink who never touched a drop. There were broken-hearted wives who were killed by their drunken husbands’ habits. Their name was legion, and they never could be few and far between while there were so many public-houses in our midst. (Applause.) It was certainly time the traffic was restricted, if not altogether stopped, and this the Local Option Bill proposed to effect. He explained what , the measure really was. He said that for 40 years past there had been a prohibitory liquor law in New Zealand, by which people were punished for selling liquor, except a favored few, the publicans, who were licensed to do so. These men got their licenses by the special favor of the licensing benches, and the speaker caused some amusement by showing the way the benches arrived at their decisions. Magistrates had to consider three things in granting a license, and the first was whether the applicant was qualified to sell rum. He (Sir William) did not know what that meant, except it was that a publican was able to tell by looking at his customer exactly how much liquor he would carry, so that he should not have a glass too much, for selling which the publican was liable to a penalty. Ships had their “ Plimsoll load marks,” and every publican was supposed to exactly understand what the “load mark” of his customer was. (Laughter.) The second requirement of the law was whether the house was fit to be licensed, and with this they did not propose to interfere. The third was whether the house was wanted, and that he said the licensing benches were not qualified to decide. (Applause.) They had granted too many licenses already, and had thereby proved their unfitness to decide iu such matters. This was the only point upon which the Local Option Bill proposed to interfere with the existing liquor law. Those who wore the boot best knew how it pinched, and if the inhabitants were allowed to express their opinion iu the matter there would soon be less houses licensed. The people had a voice in every other matter, and it was not right that they should not have one in this. It was to give men and women a voice in the matter that the Local Option Bill was proposed. Such a law had been passed some six years ago, but the necessary machinery for carrying it into effect had been omitted, and it was now proposed to remedy that defect. The thing was not unreasonable, and we must have it. (Applause.) The great masses of the people were in favor of it, and he asked them during the election to give their votes in favor of temperance reform. The time to act in the matter was when the candidate came round soliciting votes, kissing the baby, and all that sort of thing. (Laughter.) They should ascertain whether the would-be legislator would support the Local Option Bill, and if he would to promise their votes, but if not to politely bow him to the door. (Applause.) The Eev. Mr. Hinton spoke at some length upon the sanitary aspect of the temperance question, and speaking of the licensing benches said they were originally appointed as a protection to tho public, but now licenses were regarded more as a means of raising revenue. He spoke of his Sydney experiences, and said

he had been told there by the police magistrate that the licensing benches had a discretionary power, but it would be invidious to grant a license to one man and not to another. He had told the magistrate that if the benches there would not do their duty it was time the work was taken out of their hands. Speaking of the custom of “ shouting ” when business was being transacted, he said there was gradually growing up a corrupt public opinion, which needed to be corrected and put down, and a purer opinion cultivated in its place. This was only to be done by the public agitation of the temperance question. He was not afraid of druukards, but he was afraid for the sake of his children, and the rising generation of the moderate drinker. Mr. Woolcock addressed the meeting upon the economical aspect of the liquor trade. He said it was his first appearance on a temperance platform. He had not long been a total abstainer, but he now felt that he was a better man and a citizen for it, and he advised hia hearers to all become total abstainers, for by so doing they would obtain increased happiness and wealth, and would secure a higher status in society. His observation of the liquor traffic had convinced him that it debilitated men, morally, mentally, and physically ; hence it was the duty of the statesman to inquire into the matter, with a view to applying a remedy. He then went into figures upon the subject. Referring to the United States of America, he quoted from the statistics of that country, showing that 600,000,000 dollars were spent in one year upon drink, while the amount paid for wages during the same period was not 30 per cent, in excess of that sum. In connection with education, not one-sixth of that money had been spent, and the value of libraries and church property was also considerably less than the amount spent in drink ; in fact, sufficient was spent in drink to pay all the cost of the educational system, the cost of printing and publishing all literature, and purchase all libraries and church property in the Republic. (Cheers.) If they went into the same calculation with reference to England, they would find the figures would be no more favorable than those quoted. Coming to New Zealand, he found that at a very moderate estimate the amount paid per “annum in strong drink was two million pounds, or an average of £5 per head for every man, woman, and child. Thus while people were mourning and grumbling at over taxation, they were throwing away more than half a million of the entire taxation. This money was not simply wasted, but it was in addition being spent in that which produces death and desolation. Let them put this money into one common fund. They would be better without the drink, and the two millions would assist in carrying out the public works which were so much needed. (Applause.) True, there would be a loss in revenue of £400,000, hut then there would be a corresponding saving, for large numbers of police, magistrates, lunatic asylum keepers, gaolers, &c., could be dispensed with, and could be engaged at more profitable work, while the “ noble army of martyrs,” the publicans—(laughter)—would al-o have to work at something more useful than their present calling. And hero be might say that he believed there were many engaged in the liquor traffic who, if they were once convinced of the evils that traffic was the cause of, would prefer to break stones upon the road for a living rather than live in ease and comfort upon that which was doing so much injury to their fellow-men. (Cheers.) The Rev. Mr. Williams spoke upon the moral and religious effects of intemperance, and dealt with the first part of his speech in a humorous manner, in which he ridiculed the recent action of the publicans with regard to lowering the price of beer. This a large number of publicans had objected to on the grounds of morality, but he considered if they were really anxious to promote the interests of morality they would wash their hands of the trade altogether. The speaker dealt in a forcible manner with the religious aspect of the question, and sat down amidst applause. The meeting was then closed with the usual votes of thanks.