The Prohibition Movement

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7908, 25 August 1905, Page 2

The Prohibition Movement

Visit of tin Rev. L. IstttThe Rev. Leonard Isitt, one ut me most popular speakers on the prohibition question, arrived in New Ply- | mouth on Thursday from Auckland, anil in the afternoon was accorded a reception in Wlmeley Hall. There was an enjoyable and well attended rc-union ol representatives of all the local temperance bodies and friends, the Rev. J. N. liuttle (Chairman of the No-Liccnsc League) taking the chair, 'lhe visitor was heartily received, brief speeches ot welcome being delivered by Messrs W. A. Collis, N. Okey, J. Christopher and G. B. Maunder. Mr Isitt, in. his usual happy style, thanked the company for the welcome accorded him, and expressed his pleasure at again visiting New Plymouth, with which he had been officially connected in former years. In an interesting speech he dealt with the progress of the temperance movement.

'lhe proceedings were pleasantly interspersed with musical items. Misses Goodacre and Nixon and Messrs Haslam and 11. Nixon gave a quartette, and Mrs G. H. White and Mr Barker also contributed to the programme. Afternoon tea was handed round by the ladies. PUBLIC MEETING.

As might be expected, on the occ. sion of an address by such an accom plislied platform speaker as the Rev Mr Isitt, the Theatre Royal was wel filled for the public meeting in tin evening, all the reserved seats bein; occupied. The Mayor presided, ant the Revs. J. N. Buttle ami J. Nixoi occupied seats, on the platform. Mr Isitt's address was an admir able one, and he held the close atten lion ot the audience from start ti finish. The reverend gentleman's re putation as a clever and cfiectivi speaker is well deserved. He invest ed the almost thread-bare subjec with a degree of interest, and skil fully leavened the whole with a funs of humour ami anecdote, the while h< used homely similes to drive honn telling arguments. He commenced b< expressing his pleasure at having thi opportunity to speak that evening and proceeded to put the assemhlap in thorough good humour by a recit al of some of his experiences on tin warpath. Continuing, he cojnbattec the notion that prohibition was ii any way a "fad." A "fad" soon fiz 7,led out, but a genuine reform, n< matter how small and insignifican its growth might be, was a thinj that broadened and expanded as th public conscience was awakened. Pre hilSilion slarttd with 48,000 voles but last ycp.r throughout New Zea land the vote mounted up to 151,0011 while the publicans' vote of 320,001 was reduced to 118,(1(H), and license! were wiped out in four or live dee tora'es. (Applause.) The good wori was go'.ng on throughout the colony llw day for scoffing at the party oi the part, of the publicans and brew crs had gone by, for it was rccognis .d the party was at the throat of th drink traffic. Dealing with some per sonal remarks, the speaker sliowec those qualities as a fighter whicl please the people. A certain para graph seven years old hail been rirculaud in advance by some " drink committee" wherever he was tc speak. He clearly retuiwl Ibe statement that lie was "not wanted" at Glasgow, and, proceeding, showed that attempts were made to belittle other temperance workers in various ways. Apart from the pettiness of these tactics, what had personalities to do with tlie prohibition (question The change in the election figures was sufficient proof of the soundness of the principles the party enunciated. Addressing the moderate drinkers, lie adduced strong evidence to show the fallacy of the idea that drink toned-.up the system' The doctor who prescribed alcohol to-day was the exception and not the rule, and a manifesto signed by hundreds of the leading medical men of Europe stated : "Men will have a longer and healthier life, and will do bettei mental and physical work without al cohol than with it." Liebeg, an emi nent chemist, said that if a mai drank 10,000 quarts of ale lie wouh get about' as much nourishment, as ii five barley loaves. As for the drint ers of wines for the sake of the iroi they contained, one doctor said a per son could get as much iron by sucking the kitchen poker, and itwaseheapei (Laughter.) Mr Isitt went to t show the alarming proportions o, the drink traffic in Great Britain and the terrible havoc it wrought. People would say things were nothind like so bad in these colonics. God forbid that it should ever be, would they be worthy citizens to stand still and see the evil grow before their eyes. He would not be, so foolish as to say the moderate drinker was worse than tire drunkard, but his example was harmful to oth-' ers, whereas the sight of drunkenness acted as an object lesson and a deterrent. The use of alcohol in any quantity was dangerous, as it was 4 diug that created an irresistible craving with many, and again there wai the,question of heredity, livery child had the right to be well born but alas how many were never given 1 chance morally or physically ib'y the j of being .born of drunken parents. The speaker scouted the "revenue argument. Where did the wisfe* in Wllen tlje people (pent ■ il. ,ler annum of' their 'earnings. Tne money wasted would double the wages bill of the colony's -Hi - 000 operatives. New Plymouth,""a town of 6000 people, spent £24,000 a 5 ear In drlnlf, nearly a quarter of a million in .tee years ! Many 0 f tlie old age pensioners were men who had dSd" ■'!' i lWncy in drink and dur ed as social derelicts to the char--1 table homes l n conclusion, Mr Isitt said that almost every man was heroic when the emergency arose • why could they not sacrifice a little for the saktj of the weaker ones and give up their drink ? He asked etery man s co-operation in this, great work which was for the lianniness of the whole community. lpe |epturer invited questions but one were aske.J, ami tl. lecturer ,I Mimed Ins seat amidst loud applause a numher Ba n? S * crc , llamle ' l IuUI " 1 ait:l ed signatures were obtain-

vo?n e o? C H J i BuHle ' 1-11 moving a * ote of thanks to Mr Isitt, predicted thj year mP the prohl W ti ««i «gur« tjon' 6 and Paid' to the