LOCAL OPTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1986, 9 May 1885, Page 2

LOCAL OPTION.

& answer- to an invitation. by circular .emanating from theGoodTeinplar Lodge,'' I some 40. or 50 persons met. at the Temperance Hall, Chapel, street,-'last night to:j considerthe: questionin general., affecting, the cause, ana the poll to' 1 be taken:..oh; Wednesday next, for or against the.-infj crease of'licensed houses hr the Borough ;of Masterton:. MrE.;Feist'was voted• to the chair, and introduced the business of 'the evening by calling upon Mr.Easthope for the first resolution, which'was moved as follows;—" That in the opiriiph of the meeting it is'not desirable to increase the number of licensed houses in the Borough of Masterton," In speaking of the motion the mover said he found some'temparence' men were inclined in favor of granting another house in Masterton. on the grounds that if it were not licensed a so-called workingmen's club would' be started, and that it was better to have a house open to the supervision of the police than be cursed with an unlicensed club, He could only tell them that the threat of a. club was put forth designed frighten people. If they succeeded in carrying the poll to prevent. the increase of licensed houses, which they meant to do, they could get up a strong petition to prevent a club being started, as had been done in Carterton, • The Chairman endorsed the views of the previous speaker. He said their object was to educate public opinion so that they woujd be prepared when the time came to aholisn the drink traffic altogether. MrEvernden, in seconding the proposition, said he had a painful recollection of having- been a member of a. gluti in Magtgrtpn. It wag in institution in. which drink Cflujd be obfevined night and day, and alj Sunday. If they had the power to stop, the formatiou of su.cha.iiQth.ep qlub lie trusted they would exercjsg ■: jij wheij % time came.' sear if ear), The motion was put and carried unanimously. The n?xt resolution moved waj ''That a]l present pledge themselves to do all in their pqwert' the poll against an increase of licenses on Wednesday, May w> ■■■■-■

Mr Eastliope refeyred tp a l#qr which had appeavefl in the the Wahubapa Raily, sigped 'Pro Bong Publico,' (which, should have read 'Pro Bono Publican') in which the writer drew attention tq the indication of progress, shown by the proposed additional hotel. He,should gall it a progress harikiwd; The large oli'oulatiion of money would flow from the pockets of the people, If tliiß hotel was to do so much for the place, how was it they could see no benefit to the'town from the present ones, He could not understand how-the tradesmen of Mastertoi. could stand at their doors and see the money that their businesses, were languishing.for, flow -from its legitimate channel into the public houses, and yet be in ' favor of increasing them, or granting them extension of time for pljHiig Uiojr, oa]lji)g,' "" Mr Squires seconded tho resolution, which was carried Unanimously,

The next resolution was carried unanimously. " That this meeting provide on Wednesday next, at least two buggies, frpm awhce to the poll," As this, would necessitate an expenditure, jt was suggested th,at a half-crown subscription ]je staged in th,e rgqni, whjch was <|one, (n. JM) being 6Pllected, and promise frpm geyer-af wj}p had left their purses behind to contribute equally. T]]o fpllpwjng Qpinmiee wa§ then. appointed with pawep to add the wines pf any who wished to assist, and had not received an invitation to attend the meeting. Messrs Woodroofe, Foist, Klngdon, Eaathopa, Evorndon, Drown, Granam, liamber, Holdaway, J, McGregor, Sinclair, Dunoan, Oarpenter, Daniolls, and Check, and the Revds. Buttle, and Fulton.

Mr Woodroofe spoke at some length on the subject before the meeting, and the question of scrutineers at the polling 'Mr J. Mcftregfii alluded j;q tlje titne. when the second house was opened in, Masterton, The law tljen' was. that the Magjstoa|pnijg]itpnja lpnse to any liouso, provided a petition signed* by six residents was made, and when it was kiiown that applicatjqn wa.9. to lie made for this segond house, a counter petition, signed by nearly the whole of the district, was got up; but in the face of it the license was granted (shame), He was glad to see the ja\y was, altered now (hear, hear), He tyustecl they would unite theirforces to carry oiit the object before thorn, Mi l J. Brown suggested periodical meet, Ings of all classes of tompcranqe people should be held for mutual improvement, and to strengthen the cause, The Rev Mr Buttle said the suggestion was a good one and would receive his cordial support. Such a meeting as the present could veiy well arrange to secure a visit from Mr Booth, whose efforts and successes in the cause of temperance were kiiown to them all, Mr Booth was doing a great work ip fJUviatcliUPell ftlld J|unodin, and was coming, on to Wellington shortly, wh'eii- he thought' they might secure him for a day or two (Cheers.) The chairman moved, and tho Rev Mr Buttle seconded, That this meeting invito Mr.Booth, through the Wellington committee, to visit Masterton during his mission in that town. The resolution was carried, the Rev D. Fulton and Mr J, Grahp pjerjng £ 1 each towards defraying the cost' of his visit. The Rev Mr Fulton kindly offered to place the Manse at the disposal of Mr Booth should ]]g favgr tjje town with a wit, "• ■ ■".,;•.''■/ "•■■■ A votj oi thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting, and the committee affcenyards met to arrange details,