GOOD TEMPLARISM AT TIMARU.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 331, 18 February 1874, Page 3

GOOD TEMPLARISM AT TIMARU.

At a Good Templars soiree held at Timaru tlie Resident Magistrate in addressing the meeting said that he had been asked to attend, and was glad to do po, if he understood rightly the object of the Soc-icty. He understood that it was to put down the greatest national evil that all the Anglo-Saxon race are subject to, viz., drinking more than they ought to do. He did not know the rules of the Order, as he was not a Good Templar, but he one was to the effect that its members should not touch any intoxicating drink whatever, ne would go this far and say that if a man could, not stop drinking when he ought, then he should join such a Society as he was now addressing and sign the pledge. He considered that that Society had great power, and would have even more so, in enforcing the Government to put down drinking. (Hear, hear). Most of the crimes that came before him arose from drinking, and not only crimes but accidents. Ho had lately to go down South, where a man had lost his life. There was no positive proof that he had lost his life through drinking, but he had been drinking two or three days previous to his death. The people had the power in their hands in regard tp publicans' licenses. Parliament had passed an Act with the intention of putting a stop to drinking. One clause in this Act might do a deal of good, but before the psople attempted to use it, they should treat the license" holder with justice. If twothirds o£ the people sent up a petition against any person applying for a license, such license could not be granted. He understood that if two-thirds of the people in any locality desired to have the license of any publican therein taken away, they could cause such to take place. Every male and female could sign such a petition. He considered there were more public houses in Timaru than there ought to be, but the law did not allow him to have a say in the matter. Heretofore the magistrates sat and had power to grant licenses. In future the Commission and Resident Magistrate, if appointed, will sit, the whole bench to consist of not less than three, or more than seven persons, and they will have the power to say yes or no. Another clause was that any householder could petition against the granting of any license, but the Commission would have to go into the case and then decide for themselves as to whether the license should be witheld or not. He would suggest that if a publican allowed men to get drunk in his house such a man should have his license taken away from him. But they should use their power with discretion, for at the same time they had no right to take away the livelihood of any that were earning it by selling drink honestly. Such an one lias as perfect a riglifc to sell -wines and spirits, as any one else has who sells boots and shoes, or any other commodity.