PROHIBITION MEETING AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2201, 14 May 1891, Page 2

PROHIBITION MEETING AT TEMUKA.

A public meeting was held at the Wesleyan Church, Temuka, on Tuesday evening, in the interests of the Prohibition movement. The chair was occupied by the Eev. T. A. Hamilton, and there was a crowded attandance. After an introductory hymn and prayer, The Chairman introduced the subject of the evening, and made a very earnest and eloquent speech. He pointed out the evils of the drtnk traffic, and said it was the duty of Christian men and women to lend a helping hand by their own example to their weaker brethren, the clergymen present would bear him out when he said that a great deal of the troubles coming under their notice arose from the drink. The love of it began merely with self-indul-gence, then, in a social sort of way, to excessive drinking* First the drunkard’s health went, and probably his means of livelihood with it, but, worse than all, his immortal soul Was endangered, for it was written that “ No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of Hod.” Those imbued with any spirit of self-sacrifice should be prepared to give up drink for the sake of others* Them was no commandment bidding men not to drink, but when they saw that others were falling into vice and degradation through it it behoved them to lend a band to help to bear the burden of their weaker brethren,

Every clergyman and every true man should be able to say “ Come with me, and leave this evil, and should not merely point the way. Of all poisons alcohol was the most insidious. It was distinctly a brain poison, and the effects were really deplorable. In England there were 600,000 habitual drunkards. Of these 38,000 die annually—victims of drink. Of infectious diseases, of which everyone has a dread, only 8000 die annually, iln IBSO £125,000,000 was spent in I drink, and while only 2d per head was sent away in missions 20s was spent in liquor. It might be said that there would be a great loss of revenue if the hotels were closed and the liquor traffic stopped! That might be, but the amount would be more than made up by the other gains, the decreased cost of gaols and hospitals. The speaker then went on to point out that the people themselves were really responsible for these evils, and should not cast the burden of them upon the shoulders of any local body or licensing bench. Public opinion was a mighty power, and already decreed that this evil must cease. Prohibition was acting well in other places. Witness its effects in Raratouga, and also the way in which hotels were dealt with in Hungary. Prohibition proposed to stamp out drink in as amicable a way l as possible, but they would have a hard fight against ancient drinking customs and'modern vested interests. The speaker’s address was illustrated with numerous anecdotes, and concluded with a comparison from the raising of Lazarus, where Christ had said “ Come forth,” but turning to the people by he said “ Roll ye away the I stone. It was for them to roll away the stone from the sepulchre; the rest would be done for them. The adaress was heartily applauded. } After the singing of a hymn

The Eev. W. 0. Wood addressed the meeting. He expressed tne pleasure he felt at seeing a clergymen of the Church of England espousing their cause. He believed that the tide of public opinion had not only turned, but that it was reaching its flood. A little time ago no one would have beheyed that prohibition could be carried in Sydenham. To-morrow they intended to carry it in Geraldine, and before the end of the month he trusted it would be. carried 'in Temuka. The tide was gettieg up very fast indeed. People talked of little else now. A few months ago such a thing as attempting to close the publichouses bad never been thought of. People had a right now to give prohibition a chance, for the liquor ring had had itn way long enough. People urged the loss to local revenue and so forth, and the direct loss to publicans. No radical reform was ever made without someone suffering. If they could not have their conveniences of asphalted footpaths and well-lit streets without the revenue from the hotels, it was better to sludge through mud. It was a shamo to say that a magnificent city was to bo built upon the want, misery, and degradation of theiH fellow-men, His sympathy was not with the publicans, but with the people who suffered through them. Sympathy and concern should be shown for those who were weak and 1 unable to resist the temptation of drink. The speaker gave a number of illustrations from J. B. Gough’s works, etc., as to the evils and misery caused by drink, and made an eloquent appeal to fathers aad mothers to keep drink from their homes altogether. The real opponents of prohibition were those with vested interests, and he asked “ Were these people to override their principles ? ” He concluded by wishing them success" with the cause in Tetnuka. The Kev. Mr Dellow then sang Where is my wandering boy tonight ?” Mr T. W. Glover, who was loudly applauded, made one of his stirring speeches. He believed that a number of the people in lemuka had made up their minds to stop the liquor traffic, and, if so, it was bound to be done. The law provided that they could do so. All they bad to do was to return five good prohibition candidates to the licensing bench, and the thing was done. Never mind the qualifications of the men, but let them be pledged against drink, Of course it was better to get good men, and they ought to get their chairman to act as one. The ratepayers were the responsible parties, the committee merely acted for the electors. It was said that Christian men were interested in hotels and so forth. If so, let them sacrifice their interest. They would be better in every way ’ without the revenue now derived if the people would leave off drinking. A chancellor of the exchequer had said that if the country by reason of the temperance of its people lost the revenue from drink it would in the end be the gainer. It took all the revenue to undo the mischief. He referred to the Queen of Madagascar, who some might call a heathen, yet who had said in regard to the drink, “ Never shall it be said that 1 raised my revenue from the vices of my people.'’ Mr Glover then made a number of scathing remarks about sly grog shops, and in regard to the establishment of the latter said that, “No Government - would ever give a charter to any premises where the people had said that the liquor should not be sold." It had to be put down nob only in clubs but at railway stations as well. The speaker made a very eloquent appeal to all true meu to range themselves on the side of prohibition, and Qoncluded hui address amidst applatie.

A collection was then taken up in aid of the funds of the N. Z. Alliance, alter which the Rev. Mr Bellow moved a very hearty vote of thanks to the speakers and to the chairman. He said that his voice would be beard on the drink question shortly, and expressed his firm conviction that the traffic in it was doomed. The meeting terminated with the doxology and the benediction. Captain Duggan, of the Salvation Army, kindly presided at the harmonium.

PROHIBITION MEETING AT GERALDINE.

A large meeting was held at tbe Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Mon.day evening last, it having been announced *’ at the Bevs. L M, Isitt, and W. C. Wood, and MrT. W. Glover would deliver addresses on the quea tion of prohibition. A considerable number of prominent prohibitionists were upon the platform, and tbe ball was packed in every part. Mr W. EBarker occupied the chair. Mr T. W. Glover argued that every tradesman in the town would be benefited if the money now squandered in tbe publichouses was spent with the tradesmen for goods. He quoted some striking examples of the splendid results achieved in the Sefton Park, Queen’s Park, and Shaftesbury Park estates in England, all of which were strictly prohibition estates with a population of 10,000 each. Such was .the popularity of these estates that the agents bad not a house to let, and never did have one for an hour at a time.

The Rev. W. O. Wood combatted tbe idea that if they took tbe drink from the hotels the public would have to pat up with inferior accommodation. He pointed out that the reason why the temperance hotels could not as a rule compete with tbe licensed bouses was because the latter had tbe benefit of the large profits they made from the liquor trade, and were therefore able to spend more money in improving their bouses and accommodation, but if the drink were taken away they would all be upon the same footing. The Rev. L. M. Isitt, who was received with loud and prolonged applause, said he did not take quite such a pessimistic view of the drinking habits of young colonials as tbe Rev. Mr Wood. He fancied himself that the young people did not drink so much of the young people of bygone times. Mr Isitt then went on to deliver a most powerful address on the evils of the drink traffic. At the conclusion of the meeting hearty votes of thanks were accorded to Messrs Isitt and Glover for their addresses. In acknowledging the vote Mr Glover said that if tbe prohibitionists did not win en Wednesday he gave tbe publicans three years notice that that their license* would be cancelled.