TEMPERANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4285, 26 November 1892, Page 2

TEMPERANCE.

Mr Tennyson Smith's Meeting, Mr I W.Hogg, MM, as a Temperance Reformer.

Last night Mr E, Tennyson Smith delivered one of J. 11, Gough's splendid orations at the Idnsterton Theatre Royal, and people were delighted and astonished. Prom tho reports which have preceded him, Mr Smith was expected to be worth hearing, and it was very speedily seen that bis won» derfiil abilities had not been overrated in the least. The large audience was lea by the lecturer through every scene he depicted, and he was listened to throughout with rapt attention, the perfect silence only being broken at intervals when tho listeners felt they must applaud. At the conclusion of Mr Smith's oration, Mr A, W. Hogg, M.H.R., (who had kindly consented to take the ohoir), rose and referrod in glowing terms to the lecturer's ability. He also cbaracterised the drink traffic as an'"unmitigated 0v.i1," and related a Temperance anecdote. Ho then said he had a few remarks to make on tho POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL aspects of the Temperance question. He had never been a total abstainer, but could say that ho had never in* duced others to take strong drink by word or deed. Much had been said about General Booth and the "submerged tenth," hut in his opinion it was not the drink alone that was the cause of pauperism, but the ignorance and political slavery of the people which prevailed. "The people were getting enlightened and moving for the extension of the franchise, and when it was extended to women they would tee not only the drink traffic but also many other evils swept away. Moderate drinkers admitted that tho drink traffic robbed all-espectally tho v, orking man. It was

NOT IDE PUBLICAN, i or the merchant who were to blamo, . but tbe Conservatives who supported ' the traffic for revenue purposes, to 1 lighten their own burdens, When 1 the present Parliament™ eleoted, an outcry had been raised that tbe new memhei'B would make good use of Bellamy's, But the contrary had been proved, and during the last two years the country had been enjoying SOBER LEGISLATION. Bellamy's had become—what it had new been before-a place whore "refreshments" might be obtained Buoh as coffee, tea aad soup, There had been a far greater demand for this kind of thing than for strong drink, The returns had, however, fallen off one third, and yet—unlike the days when large quantities of liquor were consumed—there had been a profit instead of a loss. When men wont to make laws for the country now, it was with clear heads instead of being muddled with drink. The business of the Licensed Victuallers was about to b8 reformed, and in many directions it required reforming, He would be the last to say a word against the publicans, who were simply servants of the State, and he did not believe in throwing water on A DROWHBD RAT,

The publicans bad much to put up with, and ho did not blame them for selling, because, if there was no

demand there would bo no'supply. The State was the « boss" publican, becHUse it took all Ihe revenues from the trade. When tie people obtained the franchise fully they would not not suffer the low publio house and other evil places to exist. It was asked:

" Are we to banish drink altogetlior out of the country 1" If bo, ho believed there wore tiro ways of doing it—an easy way, by giving proper H nine, and aoruol way which would entail niuoh hardship and suffering on a large numbei: engaged in the trade, . He was in favour of THE EAfIV WAY. The Tories in Great Britain, Now Zealand and everywhere else, wero tho obstructionists of Temperance and every kind of reform, The Liberals wore in favour of reforms and must be looked to for refoimatory measures. Tbo Conservatives held up tho drink traffic, supported it and kept it going, because they knew it kept the money rolling into their coffers, chiefly out of the workiug man's pooket who spent his hard-earned wages to lighten the taxation for • them. The Labour Bureau had found tho drink a great (Irawbaok to the good work it was doing, and money whioh was'eamed it the oo>operative works, and which ihonld have gone to wives and fannies was often spent at the nearest iiotel, He hoped before long to see a great alteration in the present state of affairs, (Cheers and groans). Mr Tennyson Smith said that when he heard the Chairman's powerful remarks .concerning the awful evil of drink, he almost began to think the wrong Chairman had come, ashe had been informed fe the gentleman who was to preside was an Anti-Pro. hibitioniat, and the first half of the Chairman's speech was as powerful an indictment of tho liquor traffio as any Prohibitionist would give. Hel was astonished when the Chairman, after denouncing the evil, declared himself against prohibition, The Chairman had rofersed to the "BnBMBSQUD.IBSIH," and said he did not think drink was the oauße, bnt ignorance, If they went witMiutbrousb therms of London

and amongst the submerged tenth (hey would find clergymen, doctor's, lawyers, men of education and refine moot. Alas, education was no safeguard against the deceptive power of took. ThoOhsirman bad just said ' "Mink was an unmitigated evil," surely an "unmitigated evil" should i on swept away at once. Not by "easy i stages" as suggested by Mr Hogg. -* flower, be had said" we shall see \ W the drink and other evils swept away." l'ho Chairman had contrasted the action of the Liberal and Conserva* live Parties and he would liketoieply to that.but beforedoing soLe wished to make it quite clear be was not going , to '» lk party politics. He nover had i and never would use the temperance platform to talk party politics. As to the comparative value of the ' Liberal and Conservative parties at " Home, he failed to Beo that the Liberals had ever done more than the Conservatives. Did the' Chairmanremember that it was Mr Gladstone . who was instrumental in giving the lioense to grocers, one of the greatest curses to the country on the Statute Book. He could point to speeches by Lord Salisbury and Lord R. Ohurohill in the past as promising as anything said at that time by Mr Gladstone. He (Mr Gladatone) had lately made great promises and fie hoped Mr Gladstone would carry thorn out. He was simply, \ astounded that the New Zealand'*Government, now in power, which* was supposed to be the PAHTV. Of PBOQBESJ S and a Government whiob professed to tnißt the _ people did not deal with bis question, and give to the people the power to; say .whether liceusea Bhould be granted or not. As to the Government being Jrienaiy to Temperance Legislation, were tho audience Bware that the professed friends of Temperance had positively assisted to throw ont the Women's Franchise Bill, On his arrival in the Colony he had made enquiry as to who were their best friends in tbe House, and the names of Messrs T. L. BnickandJ. Joyce were mentioned B3 being among the most prominent, and these men had i aotMll y assisted in throwing out the Women's Franchise Bill, However, before next election the temperance f party was determined to have pledges from candidates to support Local Option, and for his part he could not understand the Chairman's' against Prohibition. Mr Hogg had f stated that the State was the "boss publican," and had ab said that the "State was the people." And yet when the people who had been the 0 faoßß publican" bad bocomo so in*. dignant at tho results of the liquor traffic that they desired to give up ■ the business, they were prevented from doing so. An argument was frequently used that a majority had no right to control a minority. For years tbe Temperance Party bad been in the minority, and, whether they liked it or not, had been forced .' to enduro the evils brought about < by the liquor traffic They bad desired ' to secure for their boys immunity from licensed temptation, and for the working man the liberty to oarry home bis wages to hia family. But in order that the majority might enjoy a glass of liquor tho minority had been powerless to stop the evil. And now forsooth, when the positions were about to be reversed the Liquor Party turned round and said "the majority ought tCw rule." Mr Hogg then rose and in reply Baid, tbe hour was too far advanced to enter upon a controversy, Mr Smith's remarks had. however, not ' disconcerted him at all. He had always thought tbatif one thing more than another required checking, it * was " tho intemperate speeohes of Temperance Reformors." Mr Hogg at this stage commenced another violent ettaok on Tories and Toryism, occasionally, by way of variation, singing the praises of the Liberal Party, and extolling its purity and general goodness. But the long, suffering audience could stand it no longer, and amidst a perfect uproar, began to file out in twos and threes in rapid succession. In another five Member for Masterton would have OLEARED THE BUttDIKO, and probably realising the fact he resumed bis seat.

Order being restored Mr Smith :ame forward and said that he considered it was a most unfair thiog til use the Temperance platform hf* political purposes, and Mr Hogg had taken an unfair advantage of Mb position as chairman of the meeting. To show the real feeling of tho meeting he should like someone to propose —'■' That this meeting is in favour of the control of the drink traffic being placed in tho hands of the people." Mr W. L, Johnstone moved the resolution and Mr WoodroSe seconded; On being put to tbe meeting it was deolared unanimously carried. Questions were invited, but nothing of importance was asked. Mr Smith then appealed to those present to Bign ■ tho pledge, FOB THE SAKE OF OTHERS, The first to step forward being Dr. " W. H. Hoßking, who amidstdeafening ' applause challenged Mr Hogg to Bign with him, But that gentleman did not see it, and thanking our popular medioo for free advice he said "he was in excellent health and did not need a dootor'a prescription." Dr. Hosking then signed the pledge* qoitp a number of people following his oxamplo, the meotin? dispersing after singing a hymn.