PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3824, 1 June 1891, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THE LICENSING ELECTION AND ITS LESSONS.

The Masterton Presbyterian Church was crowded last eyening when the Revß. Wood preached an eloquent sermon upon " The Licensing Election and its Lessons." The text was taken from Matthew 3rd, 10th verse, " Therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." .Referring to the «ause of temperance, the Rev. gentleman stated that the pirate, ship " liquor traffio" was launched in Masterton in 1885, when licenses were granted to six publichouses. It was estimated that A» 10,000 a year had been expended in intoxicating liquors in the town. This meant £60,000 in six years. And yet it was stated that they could not do without the drink. He referred to the sinking of the pirate ship on Iriday last, and enumerated the many benefits which would accrue therefrom. The effects of the strong drink were well-known to all, and during his short stay in Masterton several illustrations of the degradation it had caused had come under his notice. He had been informed by the officers of the Charitable Institution that a large propor tion of the pauperism was caused directly by drink. A case had recently come under his notice in which a resident of the Forty-mile Bush had met with an accident. He had neglected his injuries through drink, mortification had set in, he died in the hospital, and his remains had been interred in the miserable grave of a pauper. Although the Star had challenged the accuracy of the report regarding this case, he had produced absolute proof that the man had died from drink. He urged that the publichouses should be closed so far as drink was concerned, and be made places for accommodation. There had been many arguments against prohibition, but he believed that if the voice of the people was given expre - sion to, trade would revive, new industries would spring up, and the loss of L 240 a year in license fees would not be felt. He did not think they should wait for Imperial prohibition. The voice of the people should be promptly obeyed. • Buxton, the grjat brewer, had admitted that the people had a perfect right to say whether or not they would have liquor retailed in their midst. He had been somewhat puzzled at the recent expressions of opinion ot the newspapers against the Licensing Committee' carrying out the expressed wish of the people, They could take summary steps to close the hotels at once, or obey could wait for a few months and see if an improvement would be effected in the condition of things. He was very glad to find that the Wairarapa Daily, one of the newspapers of the town, had devoted a column a week i to temperance clippings, and he had i found them exceedingly interesting. 1 The Wairarapa Star, on the other hand, had refused to give publicity 1 to such matter, and had actually requested an annual payment of .£9 ; for what was inserted in the Daily . free of charge. He thought the newspapers should be encouraged in giving publicity to temperance items. , In conclusion he urged upon the friends of temperance to continue . to agitate, to work in a harmonious i manner, and to leave no stone uni turned to set such an example to the towns of New Zealand as would be worthy of emulation.