THE PROHIBITIONIST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3944, 21 October 1891, Page 2

THE PROHIBITIONIST.

FnblUhed by the courtesy of the Editor (r Wairarapa Daily under the auspice ß of the New Zealand Alliance for the prohibits 11 <>/ the liquor traffic, Mas tcrton A'isilixr)/.

When ratepayers demand the entire extinction of all places for the sale of liqnors'hcirprayer should be granted. — Charles Buxton, Bracer.

[Communications tor this column must be addressed to " The Prohibitionist " care of Editor of tVairakapa Dail*.|

The Rev. John Dakes' story is of public interest. Constable Roche, of Eketahuna, ba3 made himself known as a terror to evil doers, and a praise and protection to those that do well. The evil doers in Eketalmria consist in part of " a publican and a few old topers." The somewhat small lawless fraternity h*s, it appears, got friends in Court into whose ears they can pour out their malice and spite against, this worthy member ot the police force. The plot of these conspirators has, however, beeu discovered, and there is no little excitement over this disgraceful business at Eketahuna. The name of Mr Hogg, M.H.R., has been freely used in sonnection with the affair. The Star, in a recent leader, admits that Mr Hogg is conversant with the circumstances of the case. The Star, however, assures its readers that Mr Hogg has enough sagacity not to commit himself to any side, but at the same time adds that Mr Hogg has given his opinion in the caso. Ths Star also states that Mr Hogg's political opponents are trying to injure him in this agitation. Nobody can injure Mr Hogg but himself. What the public would like to know is : has | Mr Hogg ghen his opinion in this case in favor of th<s publicans and topers of lEketahuna, as against law and order iu the power of Constsble Roche ? An answer to this question will be a very thorough way of meeting Mr Hogg's political foes. We would like to get an answer to this question. There is no sphere of service in which the members of the police force need the moral support of the public more than in their efforts to see the liquor laws obeyed. There are hardly any other laws on our Statute books that are so systematically set at defiance. We expect to learn when the whole facts of this case are brought to light, that Mr Hogg will be like Ceasar's wife, " without suspicion." We trust it will be made very plain that his "opinion " has been in favour of law and order. It would be an utterly disgraceful thing for any member of the House to aid in piecing the control of justice in the hands of the whiskeysoaked ruffian element ot Eketahuna.

Mr E. Feist is announced as a candidate for the mayoralty of Masterton. The publican party has set abroad the rumour that Mr Feist is the nominee of the Alliance. The fact is that the Alliance has done nothing and has no intention of doing anything in this election. The Alliance is formed for one specific object, viz.,. the suppression of the drink curse. The membership consists of those who hold different political and religious creeds. Sir Harry Atkinson who is politically a "Tory" and religiously a Christian ii a Vice President of the Alliance, and Sir Robert Stout, Radical and Infidel, holds tho same office. The Alliance then as a rule does not mix itself with party politics in any way. It keeps clear of party strife in municipal questions. Of course circumstances might slightly alter cases. Were the local publicans for .example to form themselves into a ring to place one of their nominees in the mayoral chair, then the Alliance might have something to say. It is actually rumoured that this is being done in Masterton at present. The sheaf of names of applicants to be put on the roll at last meeting of the Council smelt very strongly of publican interest. Are the publicans going to try and put a professional agitator of their interests into the mayoral chair ? It would be well for the voting public to have their eyes and ears open.

A very clear and emphatic warning against Municipal and Parliamentary whifky rings needs to be sounded. The following words of an American patriot are worthy of being pondered :—" What is the influence most potent in political caucuses? Rum. On what do wily politicians and manipulators of elections most con Silently rely ? On rum. What influence sways most votes ? Rnm. Who rule' New York? Rumsellers. Who are the chief lords of many of the cities of our Union 1 Rumsellers. They are subtle, they an united, they understand themselves, they have a definite aim, they move together, and their olgect is to control the public treasury, They consider rum the magic key that will enter all its locks ; and if things go as they have gone for the few yenrspast in this country, we shall, before long bo governed, through our State legislatures and oar Federal Congress, by rumsellers. They are fast advanoing to national supremacy. I say good men weekly withdraw from politics, and leave the thing in the hands ot these bad men ; and i f our temperate, virtuous, incorrupt citizens do not rise in their mijjbt, and make a clean sweep of these men, this Republic will cease to exist, and we shall bo ruled by an obligarchy of rumsellers."

t The Church of England Convocation , of Canterbury a number of yaars ago , asked the ministers of religion, magistrates, and others, how may drunken . ness be suppressed'? We extract the following answers. (1). From the ministers ot religion : " The increase of intemperance is entirely owing to the sotting up of first one, and afterwards a rival beer house. I do not see bow any thoughtful person, -who cares for the welkbeing of the poor, can feel otherwise than that the state, by its encouragement, of the multiplication of beer shops, commits a great national sin which must one day bo punished by a national retribution." " The beerhouses are an unmitigated nuisance." " Beer shops, in my humble opinion, are the curse of the country," "If I am asked to point out the great cause and encouragement of intemperance, I have no hesitation in ascribing it in a great measure to that most disastrous Act of Parliament which set beer shops on foot. It has inflicted a terrible curse on this coun try." (2). From chief of police: " The low beer shops are the great curse of the country." "I say that the beer houses should be closed altogether. They are great inducements to drunkenness." " Abolish the pres- . ent Beer.house Act." "Close every ! beer house." " I would abolish the beer-house system altogether." !'The beer houses are a frightful source of , intemperance." (3). From governors i of workhouses : " Beer hosißis are the nest of vice and intemperance." "1 ( would most certainly" abolish beer i homes. You will, I aw positive, save i

many young persons it yon will nse your powerful influence by striking out these pest-houses, the root of all evil." " The abolition of beor houses would bo a boon to tlie country." " Beer shops should be totally abolished." (4). From judges: Judge Bovile says : " The beer shops are the greatest curse to the working men." Judge Selfe leplies : "The total suppression of beer houses throughout the country would bo un unmitigated good."