NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 444, 8 February 1890, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

MR T, W. GLOVER AT TE - AROHA. On last Tuesday evening Mr T. W. Glover delivered an address in the Te Aroha' P-üblio Hail in the interests of the N, Z. Alliance. Mr \V\ S. Allen presided on the occasion, and in introducing the speaker of the evening, himself gsve a very interesting short address of a most practical character. In the course of his remarks Mr Alim .-aid: Over £2,000, (£3 5d ierhead

of population, or over £lB for every family of six) was the drink bill of New. Zealand, which seemed a very large, in fact most exliorbitant sum of money to be so expended. Mr A'len also bore strong testimony to the natural resources and beauties of New Zealand and its climatic advantages ; stating that in his opinion residents in these beautiful islands weie greatly favoured and had everything heart could wish for in the way of natural advanlages as regap Is climate, land, metals, minerals, etc., etc, ; and to his mind New Zealand more resembled the old country—-was more really Home like—than any other colony or country he had travelled in. He hoped New Zealand would take a foremost part in adopting the principles of the N. Z. Alliance, thereby giving the people themselves in every district the right to say as to whether they would or would not have houses licensed for the sale of strong drink in their midst ; surely nothing could he fairer having regard to all concerned than that. Before calling on Mr Glover, the Chairman asked Mr Locke, of Nelson, to speak a few words. Mr Locke said : There were only two ways of curing the evils of the liquor traffic. One was to take the man away from the drink, the other to keep the drink away from (he man. The first meant moral suasion ; and in England there were now some millions of tofal abstainers. Moral suasion infant plucking the brand from the burning, whilst prohibition meant putting the fire on, on the principle that prevention was better than cure. Once when the cholera was raging very badly on the Continent of Europe, and many thousands dying from its effects, France was warned that the disease was rapidly spreading towardsit; and whatdid some of the French do, why had some hundreds of graves dug and a great lot of coffins made and replied it was ready for the destroyer whenever it might come. We ridiculed such an idiotic way of preparing For an evil as that ; and yet it was very similar to what the legislature was doing now, viz., licensing drink shops to the ruin of many, and at the same time building refuges, gao's, hospitals, etc., to teceive those destroyed through the effects of giving way to strong drink. Still the cause of right was advancing and already nine tenths of the members of Parliament were willing to grant the people the. power to vote for prohibition, hut on condition that compensation he granted with respect.to licenses done away with as the result. He did not believe, however, that God Almighty ever gave any man, or number of men, a .* vested interest ’ in the destruction of their fellow men.

The next speaker was Mr Glover, who, in comrnenciug his address expressed the great pleasure it aff rded him to have Mr Allen, who is a Vice-President of tne U. Iv. Alliance, in the chair. In New Zealand they were already a good ileal in advance of England with respect to this great questior of prohibition ; for hero it was acknowledged the people should have the right to choose for and protect themselves ; and already the law of the land provided that the people of every district could every three years decide by their votes as to whether they would permit the granting of any new licenses or not. Now all they wanted was that the little word “ new ” be struck out of that Act of Parliament, and then they would be satisfied. Beyond a doubt temperance workers in this Colony had accomplished much, i»nd had great cause for thankfulness. Thirty years ago the annual drink bill of New Zealand was £lO per head of the population ; now it is only about £3. The Chairman of tiie Christchurch Chamber of Commerce about a year ago, speaking of the improved trade and prices for wool, produce, etc., said it meant £2,000,000 more for New Zealand for the year Now if the £2,000,000 spent ia drink were also available for expenditure in trade and the development of the resources of the Colony, providing employment and good wages to very many, what -an improvement would be experienced on every hand. If that £2,000,000 were expended on Colonial manufactured articles it would meau from 6s to lGs in the £ going direct into the pockets of the working classes. The N. Z. Alliance had done a good work, and made great progress considering it had only been established four years. Last year a resolution was passed by a large majority of members of the House, affirming the principle that the people should have the full power to prohibit the liquor traffic when they desired so to do. Mr Glo.yer before concluding gave some very interesting particulars relative »p, what he had seen in recent through the south island and in the Australian colonies. On the motion of Rev Mr Evans, seconded by Rev S. Lawry, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Glover for 1113 very interesting lecture, and to Mr Allen for presiding. Qn Wednesday evening Mr Glover delivered an address in Waiorongomai Public Hall; Mr E. Y. "Cox in the chair. The a* tendance was small, no proper notification having been given of the meeting. On the motion of Rev T. A. Nome a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Glover, and the usual vote of thanks was accorded the chair.