PROHIBITION BY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2084, 12 August 1890, Page 3

PROHIBITION BY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

Mr T. W, Glover, the well-known temperance lecturer gave an address on the above subject in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Friday evening j last. There was a fair attendance. Mr W. S. Maslin occupied the chair, a considerable number of the members of the Welcome Eetreat Lodge of -Good Templars, and also of the Juvenile Lodge, were present in regalia. Mr Glover expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing so many members of * the two lodges present. He thoroughly believed in the order as being the best ..organised . temperance society in existence. He spoke at some length on total abstinence, pointing out the absurdity of supposing that intoxicating drink was in any way necessary to the health. He ridiculed the inconsistency of those so called total ' abstainers who always kept a drop m the bouse for fear of an emergency, and who broke the spirit of their pledges, if not the letter, by taking it “ medicinally ” for every little ailment - that affected them. Speaking of home life and the arguments used by many people that spirits of some sort were . : almost an absolute necessity at times hequoted as an instance of the fallacy of-such arguments some of his own • experience. Neither his wife nor himself had during 23 years of married life tasted intoxicating liquors of any - sort. He denoudced in emphatic terms the readiness with which doctors • prescribe liquors for their patients. ■ passing on to the question of prohibition he urged upon his hearers to become members of the N.Z. Temperance Alliance. They need not be total abstainers to become members. • The aim of the alliance was to return to Parliament those men only who would pledge themselves to support in Parliament a Bill giving the people the power,by means of the ballot-box, to say whetherthereshouldbehotelsin any . > district or not. To throw the onus of closing, an hotel on the members of , the-,, licensing committee was placing I them in a very invidious position, and • be urged the claim of deciding whether publichouses should exist , or not by means of the ballot-box. While speaking on the question of returning repre- ; sentatives pledged as suggested he paid high compliment to Mr S. • Buxton, the representative for Eangitata, who, he said, was one ef the most bard working and most consistent men, •in .the House. Mr Glover went on to point out the great need and desiras bility of prohibition. He urged those ■ present to make the question as to \. whether a candidate would or would not vote tor such a bill as the one . -mentioned above the deciding point as to whether they would record their vote in his favor or not- If a candidate would pledge himself to support - the "bill then vote for him, but if no candidate would so pledge himself then vote for nobody, He instanced • hpw > Oobden and Bright made the question of the repeal of the corn laws r the test as to whether a candidate should bo supported - ■or not. Mr Glover’s address was an earnest and % powerful one, full of racy but telling _ anecdotes, all bearing upon the subject. During the evening he was frequently • applauded, and concluded amidst considerable enthusiasm. . Mr-G. H. Patrick proposed —“ That the chairman write to the member for Bangitata, and ask him to use evefy means in his power to forward the passing of the prohibition bill now before Parliament. This was duly seconded, and carried by acclamation. Mr Glover was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting, at the close' of which several of those present joined the Alliance.

Mr T. W. G’over addressed a large ; meeting at the Social Hall, Temuka, last • night, traversing similar ground. The Rev. J. D : ckson presided. At the close of' the meeting, on the motion of Mr J. ’Brown, seconded by Mr A. Russell, it ' was unanimously resolved—“ That the • member for the district be requested to ..•use his' best endeavors to push forward • the prohibition bill now before the House.” The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the lecturer and the chairman. . . - . . ■