POWER AND TYRANNY OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43118, 30 July 1907, Page 1

POWER AND TYRANNY OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

On the occasion of the first

public visit to Retford of the Very Rev. Father Hays, M.R., of Holyrood Hall, Market Rasen, all the temperance societies of the town and district gave a public reception in the Town Hall, which was elaborately decorated for the occasion, and arranged as a drawing-room. Very great inierest was centred in the event, and never before f did the members of all religious | bodies join hands more heartily 1 than in their earnest efforts to worthily welcome the man who has given his life to worthily welcome the man who has given his life to the service of a great cause, and has won thoughout the country* the title of “The 3 Father Matthew of England— Tiie Apostle of Temperance.” The very Rev. Father. Hays, , who was enthusiastically received on coming forward, A gracefully returned thanks for the splendid reception he had received at the hands of that large, influential, and thoroughly ~J - f representive assombly of Christian people interested iu a cause sacred to home, to soci tv. to~ manhood, and to God —a cause far rnpre precious to him than Jjfe itself.—(Loud applause). This was the age of the people and the masses, when the best interests of church and State urged them to do all they could to bring to the multitude greater intelligence, stronger moral forces, and to place them on the road to social progress. To-day it was in the power of the British workman to rise to high position, not because his his father was an earl or a duke, but because he had ability and education. The people of this coun* try were entitled to many changes and reforms before it could be said they enjoyed all THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY AND MODERN CIVILISATION, but there was one word that told emphatically the vital condition that must attend all efforts towardi social elevation, and :hat was sobriety. Intemperince was the source of misery md degradation, and the enemy o the peace, the prosperity, the tappiness the.social, moral, and ■eligions welfare of the people, t was causing physical deteri-

r , oration in the large towns and- | dries, and demoralising our ini' (Mistrial race. Father Hays made n very deep impression by a re- : ■•p.ai of liis own experiences amongst the slums and alleys of the large towns and continuing, ! he spoke some ! BOLD and fearless words. The drink traffic was surroundng uself with every conceivable w a pun «*f fiower, It had come j to this, that the man who wished jto say a word for the poor victims of drink—the man who dared to have a heart to feel for lhe miseries of those around him, dared not speak the truth for fear of offemding someone in society, or losing his position. He revolted against such hideous y moral tyranny, and thought if, time to speak out and say that the poorer and more helpless, the masses were how were victimised by the curse of drink all the more incumbent it was upon the Government and upon a Christian people to try and save them even at the cost of votes, .or a position in society. The breweries and distilleries had taken hundreds of ried ’ houses ; they controlled our politics, so that men. wishing to serve there country in the municipality or in Parliament, dare ‘ not say a word against the public house, and men elected U. through its influence were afraid to lift their arm against it, and it reigned supreme and fearless over the land. Father Ha is called upon the entire audience and all stood aud repeated after him the words of the pledge. Ifc Was an impressive sight.