IRISH ASSOCIATION FOR PREVENTION OF INTEMPERANCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43115, 18 July 1907, Page 1

IRISH ASSOCIATION FOR PREVENTION OF INTEMPERANCE.

(Continued from last issue)

Mr T. W. Russell, M.P., moved — (t As the success of" | the temperance movement ultimatejy depends on the adherence of individuals, this meeting'rejoices in the immense strides which have been made in the past, especially in the past year, and congratulated those workers whose labours have been crowned with so much success.” , ;

If, he said, the landlords had J;the power to exclude fresh | licenses from their estates, it | was only reasonable that they ; should claim the same power fpr:| the people, who were far more | concerned and interested Than | the landlord. That was what | ought to be done and could be done if they were wise. The police magistrates in Dublin | now "said that their Monday’s work was one of the lightest in the week, whereas ‘before the present Act bocame law it had been one of the heaviest. So, be said, there were things which could be done with the assent of the publicans; and if these things which could be done were not done, the temperance men of Ireland would be to blame, and incur a heavy responsibility, (Hear, hear). There must, it was certain, be a considerable reduction in the number of licenses in Ireland. There was now about half the population of the 'forties, yet about double the number. of public-houses. It :was.' said, “ Oh, this is the work of your uew magistrates.” But it was not. It was the work of the old magistrates, who, whenever they discharged a servant got him a license* He recognised that the publican had a legal interest in his license, for which „ he ought to be compensated; but the compensation to those who went should be given by v those who remained. (Applause). As to the publicans $ who oatered for the bona-fide traveller, were they sure that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not clan an extra dutv on

their licenses ? As to the clubs, they were in nine cases out of e:i a fraud. Why was the club m saered thing? Why were they not subject to laws, and rules and hours ? He would tell them, Beoause the Kildarestreet Club would have to be subject to them. (Laughter and applause). And so, in order to protect the Kildare-street Club ’ and Stephen’s Garden Club, all ; this delivery must go on throughout the city. (Applause). This club nuisance must be ended. Another point: They had long been clamouring for early clots ing ; but what about late closing in the mornings ? A man who had been drinking on Sunday wanted more early on Monday,* and he had been told by em<* ployers that if a man got past the public-ho ise on Monday morning he would continue to work all the week, but getting into the public.-house he stuck there, They must also deal with the railway refreshment bars, many of which had on Sundays become as ordinary public-houses. He (Mr Kusseli) concluded by saying that at the meeting of the National Bank held in London recently the chairman had stated that the only trade that was languishing in Ireland to-day was the publichouse (applause) and Mr Slattery was in a good position to say whether the public-house of to-day was as good security f fur an advance as it used to be. ] (Applause).