THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2777, 1 May 1890, Page 2

THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

» .., ~ TO TICK, EDITOR. Sin, —I quite agree with your correspondent " Temperance" in his remarks in Tuesday's issue of your valuable paper re the Licensing Committee and the Royal Hotel, at Hamilton. At pcesent we have no less than four hotels in Hamilton, so now that there is a chance of closing one of these four, by all means let us do so if we possibly can. Even if the above-mentioned one was closed, we should have three, and then there would be two too many for a township the size Df Hamilton with not more than 1,000 inhabitants. Of course, as " Temperance " trnly admits, if the closing of this hotel meant a great lobs to the owners and to the public at large it would be a different thing, but such is not the case, and I am sure that if even a goodly number of the people of Hamilton raise a cry against a new " pub " being erected, the Licensing Committee will scarcely think twice of giving their decision against the license being renewed. '" Temperance," too, suggests " that tho temperance organisation, assisted by ministers of the different denominations, should get up a petition against the renewal of the license," and my small opinion is that it would be. a capital idea, and would be the right step in the right direction. But it seems to me, sir, that three out of the five denominations in Hamilton are in favour of this great evil — the drink traffic —or at, any rate they do not do one farthing's worth of practical help to assist to suppress it. Take, for instance, Mr Glover's great temperance meeting, held just a few weeks ago in Hamilton. On that evening the Salvation Army, with their band, and the Wesleyans joined together, and held an open-air temperance meeting, and formed a march to the hall, to assist the lecturer and his cause; but, " Where were the other denominations ?" Yes; echo answers " Where ?" The lecturer, too, rightly remarked on that occasion, that he was very sorry to see that the Church of England was not represented. We see that at Te Aroha, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and at other districts in Waikato the different denominations unite, and why should it not be so in Hamilton? It is very noticeable that at Farmer's Clubs meetings, or at any other worldly concern, tkese very ministers are the first to put in an appearance, yet at evangelistic services, or temperance meetings— something that will do the people good, spiritually, they make themselves conspicuous by their absence. In conclusion, let me, with "Temperance," urge that every minister in Hamilton get up a petition, and influence as many of his church members as possible to sign it against the new license being granted, and let the several denominators in this matter all pull the one way, for a " house divided against itself must fall." Thanking you for your space, and hoping that immediate action in this matter will be taken.—l am, yours truly, Total Abstainer. Hamilton West, 30th April, 18' JO.