MR.MATTHEW BURNETT'S

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2342, 9 July 1886, Page 2

MR.MATTHEW BURNETT'S

Thb sixth night of the mission was conducted in the Theatre Royal. Mr Duncan McGregor, of. Lower Manaia, occupied the chajr. In his opening remarks the Chairman referred to the great pleasure it had given him on the two or threo occasions he had had the pleasure of bairns Mr Burnett to note that he had avoided falling into what ho must consider the error of judgment so frequent amongst Temperance advocates on the' publio platform. He alluded to the wholesale condemnation of all as enemies who did not go so far, as those refQtmers desired. (Hear! hear I) He was glad to notice that Mr Buro°tt had sufficient consideration for the feelings of the class he spoke of, and did not go In for ihe intemperate advocacy of Temperance, He believed that in the past the custom of abusing those who weee not prepared

to go to the greatest leugth in the cause of total abstinence had raised up many enemies and considerably stemmed the progress of the stream of popular opinion which was flowing in favor of fhe movement,' There were a great many earnest Christian people who took alcoholic drinks in moderation, and did nut. look upon it as a crime to do so, and it was an insult to common sense In say'that there wore not hundreds of moderate drinkers who would go to the end, of their days without falling into tho ways of intemperance. On the other hand there were many who had become wrecks who had thought themselves strong.—(Hear,hear.) It was manifest that they had abundant evidence that the drink traffic had considerably lessened during the last twenty years. The queuesi for them to consider was what had brought about that change, and what ends they should use for its entire abolition. He believed there were a great many canees that would . have to bs brought into operation to bring about the desired result.-- Temperance societies had brought the matter up to a certain point. The churches had done a good deal to help it forward. They had been awakened to a sense of their duty and were working as they had never worked before, aud christian people almost to a man wero abstainers. Medical authorities had protested against its oxcossive use, and tho injudicious tampering with it. Then again the general sense of the people of New Zealand must, be taken into consideration. Four or five years since he had stated that the common, sense of the people would in time banish its use. Drinking would be looked upon with disfavor, and the man who disgraced himself by drink would be treated with contempt. That was what was working such an important oliange at the present time, riot the action of injudicious and over zealous temperance advocates. He believed the traffic in drink to be a ourse, and the sooner it was abolished the better for the country and thepoople. (Cheers) fie believed the various agencies that wore at work would result in forwarding the movement up to a certain point, The political aspect was a moafc important; one* The Goveruinoot of the country had acknowledged the evil by legislating upon it. They would bo compelled to go fuitlier. There was such a thing as standing still, Forward or backward, and with the many agencies at work to bring pressure to bear upon them they push along until total prohibition was jeaohed (cheerc.) flo did not believe in permissive legislation. It created ill feeling in communities, mid bad Mood amongst neighbors, and tended to ho good. They sont mm to the House to legislate for the people, not to make 'luws empowering tic people to legislate for themselves. He spoke very strongly against permissiye laws, and the want of courage in the legislators in resorting to such means of withdrawing from a position of danger from fear of the consequences. Permissive 'measures were cumbrous, expensive, and troublesome. The direction the law ought to take was absolutepsohibition throughout the colony (cheers). Detractors to the contrary notwithstanding, prohibition had proved an unqualified success and met with public approval wherever it had been made law, (Hear hear), and why should they not have it in New Zealand, (Mr-Buttle, "We will!" Loud cheew). The speaker continued, Mr Buttlehad saidfchey would, and he believed they would. (Hear hoar.) If those things wore in view that lie had alluded to, then the final result must be attained. They must pave the way with all things at their disposal, aud then, when public opinion was ripe for legislation they would have it.. He apologised for the time'he had taken up. and intraduoed the lecturer.

Mr Burnett rose amidst tremendous cheering. After some preliminary skirmishing, and workiiic his audience up to tho right pitch of expectancy, he entered upon one of the most touohing addresses he has yet delivered in Masterton. Tho high position of the subject of the life picture placed boforo hie Wrers, his fall to the lowest dopths, its' cause, and then his moat pathetic account of his rescue, his ultimate return to a position, and the restoration of his family and home had groat influonoo on the feeliups of his hearers, The second part of his lecture was altogether cast in a different mould. Stove and Janet, the herooi of the pictures, were the victims of the " lambing down" system bo much in vogue in the Australian Colonies at the time he referred to. Its recital showod instances of how the native wit of the Yorkshireman overcame the giant efforts of his enemies to swamp him, and the final victory achieved for the temperance party by the determination of Steve and his' wife to take tho rod ribbon, tho then outward sign of a pledged abstainer At the close of the meeting between thirty and forty deserted the ranks of .King Alcohal. the first name on the list being the signature of a "baronet," a umii well-known to Masterton for yearß its an anti-teetotaller, ifjnofc known to have a title. An announcement that Mr Pearson's string band had kindly volunteered to plav the following evening was received with cheers, and the meeting broke up.