Wanted: A Healthy Public Spirit.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 262, 4 December 1903, Page 3

Wanted: A Healthy Public Spirit.

Speaking at the annual meeting af the Council of the Churches, held on Wednesday evening, the Rev. J. N. Buttle said that one of the objects of the Council was to promote a better and more healthy public opinion upon questions affecting- the welfare of the community, especially those which pertain to religion and social life. From the annual report which had been just read, it would have been seen in what direction the Council had taken action. He might mention only one—that of early dosing of hotels. He understood that movement originated with the Council, and in securing the election of the Licensing Committee the Council had exercised a very wide influence. The- result was that the hotels now all closed at 10 p.m., thus removing one of the worst temptations in connection with the trade, that of late drinking. He believed that the change was a distinct gain to the community. The matter of early closing might with advantage be carried still further. He had watched the Saturday night trade and street traffic, and he was strongly of opinion it would be a great boon if all shops closed at 0 p.m. on that evening. If late shopping was a necessity, it should be on some evening other than Saturday, and then not after & p.m., which hour should be fixed by statute. It was also necessary for the Council to create in some people and strengthen in others the sense of responsibility on the

part of the U.'St men in the community to place their services at the disposal of their fellorv citizens to fill public offices. Complaint was often made of the incapacity of pub-

lic bodies, and the errois of those who constituted those bodies. The complaint, however, should be made against those people who put such persons into office. He referred to the fact that recently no nominations had been maide t.o fill the vacancy in the. West Ward representation in the Borougfj Council. It was a matter to be deplored when constituencies became so utterly indifferent to public matters that it was, possible for anyone to be put into a position for which he had no qualifications whatever. The absence of a high toned public spirit was a calamity to a community. It, was claimed for New Plymouth that it was a town of a most progressive type ; it was therefore the more necessary for the people to cultivate such a spirit as he had mention-id.