The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 998, 1 July 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1879.

Last night*3 meeting, called to cIi3CJS3 the ; " Coffee Palace " question, will not contribute much to the oratorical annals of ! our nation. But some common sense was spoken by the few who stepped forward to ! proclaim themselves advocates of the idea. The meeting was called by those who are i identified with the Young Men's Christian 1 Association, and was held at the rooms of that institution. The promoters are deserving of praise for ■ having taken the initiative in a question that has absorbed rottch attention in other parts, on account of the social evils arising out of the drinking shop system—evils that are most pernicious in the case of our working men. But, we w:.lu tell the of this nx"ai admirable cause tfiat they unknowingly limited the attendance at last night's meeting by appearing so prominently on the scene: that this is the reason why they were left to advocate it almost unaided. We have nothing to say in depreciation of the value of Young Men's Christian Associations. They perform a good work, and they do it well. But this »iuestion of a " Coffee Palace " for Oamarn is one in which the majority of the people of this district .-.re interested, whatever may be their religions professions. Last nights advocates will be gratified to learn this. Yet they cannot expect perfect success unless they widen their bonds, and embrace amongst the agitators of their loved measnre "all sorts and conditions of nxen." In reading the proceedings of last. Slight, we can discern but little indication that those who debated the question under consideration : are votaries of Young 3len's Christian ■ Associations ; that they wished the drink- , ing of coffee and the inculcation of | Christianity to go* hand in hand. We. : therefore, think it a pity that the origii nators of the idea did not seek the co- ! operation of other classes of the com- : munity before emerging into light as its : promulgators, in order to avoid the ap- ; pearance of cxclustvenea3, which is usually 3© obnoxious to some people, and which : would be particularly objectionable in the ! present instance a3 being subversive of | the success of the particular work of ! public philanthropy in hand. It is not ! too late now. For, as no one can charge i those who met together last night i with evincing the slightest desire to sermonise or exhort their audience, little i or no difficulty will be experienced in adding to the present excellent committee ] elements" that will secure the sympathy : and cordial co-operation of all sections of ! this eouimttnity. The IJev. Mr. Todd : was thoroughly sensible in his remarks, : and, what is still more to the point, he i said he would personally support the project. This i 3 worth more than any amount of sympathy, however nicely it may be expressed. Mr. Falconer hit the nai! on the head when he said that what is wanted is a working man's hotel. We imagine he means that the proposed " Coffee Palace " should be made as attractive as possible, and not less comi fortable than the best hotels of the town. A resort where intellectual enjoyment invites the laborer or any other man during spare moments. The meeting displayed it 3 sense in rejecting the proposal to establish the concern " on a temperance basis." People do not like temperance thmst down their throats, even if it is mixed with coffco to wash it down. Moral suasion is the only means , whereby the world is to be made tem- ! perate, if it is to be made temperate at all. i The followers and advocates of temperance j principles have more sympathy from the 1 enter world than they dream of. It is not the work they are endeavoring to carry out that is disliked ; but the proverbial meanness rf too many of thos.? who prot'es-5 to be shining lights, bur who are vietirm of greed and narrov.miiuTe.lm's* sv.»»:e than they nr.* admirers i».t iL- p:irct','lc3 trvy attempt had Wenwide t<> float the r<roje.r» . on teetotal princirUv. few but UvtuuJc;-.. ' would hav»> its patrons. A " coffee palace" re>f«'leuE <•;' cloves, spurious raspocrry. and jtej-'-efaur.; id fune ie--1 small cuuiiuuiiny ii»u tin® ;irc numerous, and tlifcir patronage of the proposed " coffee palace" would not hare

been sufficient to keep the floors and •windows clean. The idea is undoubtedly good, and has long been spoken of in this community as necessary. But from its inception it must be associated with breadth of view and toleration, or it will never see the light of day.