TEMPERANCE DEMONSTRATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3876, 3 August 1891, Page 2

TEMPERANCE DEMONSTRATION.

The Licensing Election. About a hundred persons assembled in the Temperance Mall, Masterton, on Saturday evening, when a temperance demonstration was held. The chair was occupied by the Rev J. Dukes, several other temperance supporters being also on the platform. The chairman, in his opening remarks, said—We shall soon be in the throes of another licensing election. It has been admitted on all hands that the late election was most fairly and honourably fought. The issue on each side was distinctly laid down, Both parties worked witk a will, and the result was that a decided majority of the ratepayers voted in favour of Prohibition. The publican 3, fairly beaten, and their craft being in danger, began to consider how they could upset the election. They called to their assistance three legal gentleman. With a keen scent for technical delinquencies, and wonderfully strong—yea even microscopic—sight tor infinitessimal omissions, they discovered nine legal objections, each of which was deemed weighty and serious enough to invalidate the election. I will not repeat the grounds of their petition, suffice it to say that a more trumpery lot ofobjectious were never grouped together. Not one of them has the slightest bearing on the moral aspects of the question. And what cares the honest voter who has emphatically declared at the ballot box that the present iniquitous system of licensing, with all its temptations to drinking, shall, as far as Masterton is concerned, speedily come to an end. I say, what cares be for a hundred quibbles raised by the lawyers ? Does any sane man suppost that thj judgment of the majority is in the least affected by the late majestical decision? Most of you are aware of a lively—yes, rather too lively—correspondence going on in the Daily between the secretary of the Moderate Party and an unknown correspondent on the Prohibition side. I say unknown, for both are unknown to me, but I do protest in i the names of courtesy and decency I against the style adopted by the said Secretary. I have been pretty well used to newspaper correspondence for the last twentyfive years, but I have seldom seen such an amount of slang and abuse put together. Surely this matter can be discussed in a gentlemanly way without indulging in such gross inuendos. Howeyer, one thing is certain, that a continuation of this sort of thing will play very materially into our hands, for rashness, discourtesy, and abuse never secured a single vole among intelligent people. The Secretary of the Moderate Party asks for the policy of the Prohibitionists. What a strange question, j As though he did not know it, as though the party he is working for did not know it. Our general policy is laid d»wn in our openly avowed principles, viz., the total and unconditional prohibition of the liquor traffic, and there is not a publican in Masterton who does not know it. Now let Mr Walker as clearly state what the policy of the Moderate Party is. Before calling upon Mr ■ Glover, who ought to have the lion's share of the meeting to-night, I would remind the ratepayers thai the power is now in their hands to strike a hard and damaging blow at this demoralising monster, the drink traffic, and which even the Secretary of the Moderate Party admits is an evil. What does common sense say should be done with an evil.— Regulate it ? By no means.— Strangle it. We regard this traffic as the cruel and relentless foe of the home, the school, the church, and the State. As such we will accept no compromises, admit no half measures, for we are in solemn league united to give ourselves and the iniquitous trade no rest until,in its present form, it is buried in everlasting oblivion. Mr Glover, who was received with cheers, apologised for the absence of Mr Bufck, M.H.R., who he stated was the only Good Templar in the House. He believed that the only labour representatives who had ever been returned to Parliament were total abstainers. The Knights of Labour were a wonderful help to the ' temperance cause throughout the world. He hoped one of the planks of the Masterton Assembly was Prohibition, and that they would vote for it at the coming election. They relied on the working classes to suppress that evil which was ruining so many homes. He then referred to an interview which be had on that morning with Mr Walker, the Secretary of the Moderation Committee. Mr Walker bad said, " I've got half a dozen men ready to meet you," but he did not want to discuss the question with half a dozen. He wanted the Moderation Committee to put up any one man they liked, Half a dozen speakers would only cause a wrangle and a shout —probably shouts of various descriptions. (Laughter). He had offered to debate with Mr Walker on Monday night, but Mr Walker had said he was engaged on that evening, (laughter). Although he himself was going out on Tuesday, he was willing to wait for the convenience of Mr Walker on that night and debate the question. He invited Mr Walker to "Come on and don't funk it! "(laughter) Mr Walker had promised faithfully to be present at that meeting, but he did not see him (laughter). I7 Q would say once again, i ■ i " j j- i." "''" that lie was ( plainly and distincw, . " M . I prepared to meet Mr Walker, or any j of his men at any time, (hear, hear). He would now dismiss Mr Walker ' and his Committee, although he did . not know who that Committee was , (laughter). He had asked Mr Walker ' for the same of his Committee, and he|<

had referred him to Mr Pownall. The latter had referred him back to Mr Walker, and he could not find this mysterious Committee (laughter). He then proceeded to deal with the drink traffic and its effects. He instanced several townships to show the advantages of prohibition. Ha did not believe the publicans had any claim for compensation, as when the term of their license had expired they had nothing to lose. The residents of Masterton, he maintained, were contributing the sum of £IO,OOO a year for the collection of £240. They could not, therefore, complain that by the loss of licenses they were losing revenue. As to a.commodation, he thought that nobody would begrudge paying a little extra, if it was necessary, to maintain houses for accommodation. It was not the desire of Prohibitionists to close the hotels, butsioiply to prohibit the sale of drink. He contended that the value of adjoining property was depreciated by the erection of an hotel, and it was a well-known fact that a wealthy man took care not to have a licensed house in the vicinity of his residence. In concluding a very eloquent address, Mr Glover urged upon all true Christians and friends of temperanoe in Masterton to stand shoulder to shoulder and return to the Licensing Bench men who would work in th*3 true interests of the Borough (cheers). A vote of thanks to Mr Glover for his able address brought the meeting to a close.

SUNDAY NIGHT. The Theatre Royal was packed from floor to ceiling last night, when the temperance demonstrations were continued. The chair was occupied by Mr C. Holdaway, who briefly introduced Mr Glover, Mr Glover again challenged Mr A Walker and his Committee to debate the question before the public. He referred at length to the demoralising effects of strong drink, and urged upon his hearers to show their disapproval of the action of the publicans in upsetting the election on technical grounds, by re-electing the Prohibition Committee by an overwhelming majority. He ridiculed the idea that the moderate candidates were temperance candidates, and stated that they were practically the nominees of the publicans. In concluding his ad" dress he urged upon all to vote straight for prohibition and for tha good of the town. The Rev. R. Wood made a vigorous appeal to those present in the interests of temperance, and expressed the hope that the tide of iniquity would be stemmed in Masterton. The proceediugs were brought to a close by the siDging of the Doxology.