SOCIAL PURITY MOVEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 252, 24 October 1893, Page 2

SOCIAL PURITY MOVEMENT.

DUNEDIN'S SEAMY SIDE,

A DETECTIVE'S STORY TOLD FROM

THE PULPIT.

(BY TELEGRAPH.— PBESS ASSOCIATION.)

Dunedin, this day. The addresses delivered by the Revs. Saundera and Gibbs, in the Congregational and First Churcbeß, on Sunday niglit, have been the theme of general discussion since. Never were there larger congregations in these churches. Subdued applause was frequent when the preacher touched some chord which struck home. Mr Saunders marshalled his forces very ably, and it ia generally conceded thab he made the strongest case. He has gone Sou tit to recruit, having been in ill-health for some time, but he proposes on his return co town to renew the attack, while Mr Gibbs will continue next Sunday. A strong organisation is Bure to be the outcome, and if the investigations are continued on people's lines, much good will come of it. There are indications that the women mean to force this social purity question to the front during the elections. Mr Saunders announced that his statements were based on the investigations of an experienced ex-detective, and knowing the sources of Mb inspiration, 1 can honestly say that that person is not likely to exaggerate, No man is better acquainted than he with the seamy side of Dunedin, which he baa been investigating for the last 24 years. Some of the figures adduced were quite startling. Quite 70 per cent of the amount estimated'to be spent in gambling goes through the tobalisator at Forbury alone, and there are in Dunedin fourteen pocket totalisators, whose number occasionally Bwells to 24. Mr Saunders was very severe on the Peter schools, and denounced in-scathing terms those who assumed a sanctimonious garb and yeb thrived by letting houses at exorbitant rentals to the unfortunate class. There were 42 of such houses known to the police aud innumerable unregistered places, and fully five per oenb. of those who visited such places were married men. The suggested remedies from both pulpits were the formation of a Civic Church Vigilance Committee—call it what you will—a company of determined people whose work will be to clean our Augean stables. •' Fronyauiongsb our Churches and societies, and 'from the public generally, wo wish," said one preacher, "to see drawn together those who would purify our city, destroying, too, the snares that are now set for the destruction of our children. Sink for a while our ecclesiastical differences,. Let ua throw off our torpor, and show a united and determined front to the enemies—the leagued enemies of righteousness. In the first place ib could agitate for the repeal of that law which permits the use of the tobalisator. Id seeking to do this, we possess a clear caee. Our streets should be cleared of the walking toUlisators. They are nob only a nuisance, bub a serious danger to the. community, standing, aa most of them do, betwean High-street and Rabtray - street. In Princess - street they importune the passers by, and indeed almost force many young men to bet with them who would gladly enough say ' No ' had they sufficient) courage. Now, that this betting orowd should be permitted to take possession of an important part of our main etroet, making it both filthy and dangerous, is sorely intolerable. It could also render effeocive service in compelling action to be taken for the suppression of gambling in hotels and in dens. We must) confront the drink and betying Hogs and by organ-

isabiona as determined as they are, with the added merit of the strength of respectability. The police need to be encouraged and supported in their actions against those who can at present make it uncomfortable for them. Let them now be supported by a strong public opinion, which it should be our duty to provoke, and they will accomplish more good by far than is at present possible. To them this means nob only increased vigour on their part in suppressing gambling, but also in enforcing the licensing laws. We all know how those laws are now observed. There is not a child who does not laugh ab the mention of the law that deals with the regulation of the sale of drink, of what is done to defeat the evils of justice, and one wishes, thab for half an hour the law of libel Was abolished, and that one could speak out all that calls for utterance. The reform ot our Bench of magistrates is also necessary. Same of our J.P.s are fine men, and honourable, of whom the city may well be proud. It is notorious, however, that, looked at as a ! whole, they somewhat resemble the image of Nebuchadnezzar's vision. The head was indeed one of gold, but in the feet was very squeezable clay. In connection with this Bench, then, our civil Church would have several duties to perform. I mention the three first. It would have to insist on' the retirement from the Bench of any Jußticewhoße trade in any way connected him with the offence about to be considered; secondly, the retirement from the Bench of a Justice seeking or holding any public position during the trial of any person from the district which the Justice represented or sought to represent; and thirdly, thab no Justice should sib on the Bench out of his turn, for this ab least opens the door to the gravest suspicions, if not to something more. These, then, are some suggestions connected with Justices that call loudly for the public weal. And, lastly, the civic Church, in the interests of social purity, could continually draw attention to existing houses of ill-fame, calling on the authorities to suppress then?. In a short time we could largely reduce the present number of forty-two, and possibly close' others that are equally notorious, though not technically bad houses. Indeed, a company of earnest men and women could do untold good, either by preventing the spread of this evil or by rescuing thoe'e who have fallen."