The Press. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1866.

Press, Volume IX, Issue 1093, 10 May 1866, Page 2

The Press. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1866.

It always seems to us that there is a want of pluck about the advocates of the Permissive Bill, the Maine Liquor Law, aud all such partial contrivances —compromises as they really are. If it be right to restrain the use of liquors by such laws as these, why not do the thing completely ? The Lyttelton Times meets the teetotal arguments by the absurd reply that all such legislation must fail. Why should it fail ? "We can prevent the sale of gunpowder. We preclude the public from the use of tea, sugar, tobacco, and liquors, which have not paid duty. Where is the difficulty of prohibiting the use of liquors altogether ? The Main Liquor Law did not profess to prevent the importation of liquor, but only its sale. The result was that people imported for themselves. We have heard stories of clubs formed, including hundreds of members, who subscribed so much a year, and had each man his key, so that he could draw what he wanted for his own drinking. Similarly the Permissive Bill is a partial measure. It allows the ratepayers in a certain district to put a stop to the sale of liquors in that district. But if the thing is right and necessary why confine its operation to a small district ? Why not let the electors act in large districts? Why not in provinces? Why not in all the colony as

one district ? Or, to go to the root of the matter, why not prohibit the importation or manufacture of any intoxicating drinks at all except for medical purposes, and through the hands of medical men ? There would be no impossibility —no great difficulty in doing this. Of course there would be some smuggling, but the amount of liquor introduced by smuggling would be a drop of water in the ocean compared to that which is introduced by ordinary trade. If the colony really meant to put a stop to the use of intoxicating liquors, it could do so. "We are not advocating such a policy ; we only say that if the thing is to be done, we must go much further than the Permissive Bill or the Maine Law. But the real truth is that the people do not mean to put a stop to drinking, and do not want to do so. What we have to contend with is, not the difficulty of making or* enforcing a law, but of persuading the people to adopt the policy ; and we are a very long way off that at present. Nay, if the people were in that state of moral advancement that they would consent to such a prohibition, would they not also be in a state in which such a prohibition was unnecessary? We come then to the root of the matter, namely, that it is to personal and individual moral restraint in the use of intoxicating liquors that we must look for a remedy. The view taken of the Bubject by the law of England was, that a man might get as drunk as he pleased so long as he did not obtrude his inebriety into the public thoroughfares so as to annoy others. Personal liberty was respected until it began to infringe on the personal liberty and convenience of others. Everything beyond that was left to the influence of private and moral restraint. Father Matthews, whose exertions were far more successful than those of any other temperance apostle on record, confined himself to moral suasion alone. The teetotallers have hitherto adopted the same plan, and there is no body of men whose exertions are more valuable or who are entitled to greater respect—no body of men, we verily believe, to whose exertions a greater amount of individual happiness, or the aversion of a greater amount of misery is due. To a man who is perpetually tempted to excess, the vow or promise publicly made, the sympathy of others who experience the same difficulty, all the influences and motives with which the associations of an organised society surround him, are valuable safeguards, strengthening his resolution and repelling temptation. But by the Permissive Bill a new principle is introduced. It is there said—" Because some men cannot refrain from drinking too much, others shall not drink at all." We say "drink at all," because we take the absolute exclusion of liquors to be the only rational alternative. We do not believe that merely putting a stop to the sale of liquor would prevent drinking; it would merely inconvenience the sober, whilst those who wanted drink would get it in indirect ways. If this policy is to be adopted at all let it be thoroughly acted out, and let liquor be excluded. There would be reality in that. But then we say —are sober men to be prevented from having a cheerful glass because drunkards drink too much? We believe it is utterly hopeless to expect that the public can be brought to any such conclusion. We believe the moral agencies to be the most powerful and only permanently effectual means of decreasing drunkenness.

At the same time we should not be sorry to see the Permissive Bill tried as an experiment. We doubt its success. We do not believe that the public would long act upon it; but it could do no harm, and, feeling as strongly as the most rigid teetotaller the need of some check on the prevailing habits of intoxication, we have no objection to see it tried. Even the disappointment which would follow its want of success would not be without use in the solution of the difficulty. But, as we have often said, drinking in excess is more or less a fashion. When men have other and higher interests ; when they love reading and music, and graceful and intellectual amusements better than the grosser pleasures of intemperance, when drinking is deemed to be disgraceful, and when decent men and women turn the cold shoulder upon drunkards, then, and then only, will drinking become as rare as it now is common. If we are to have the interference of the law at all, at least with any anticipation of success, let us banish intoxicating liquors altogether—but is that j possible ? j

Cbowded Out.—The crowded state of our advertising columns compels us to omit a letter from our Hokitika correspondent, a report of the Resident Magistrate's Court, some correspondence, and other matter.

Grand Steeplechase Handicap.—A Calcutta sweep on this event came off last night at Barnard's repository, by thirty-five members at £1 each. The drawing was very satisfactory, considering the event is still a fortnight hence, for the purchaser of the successful horse will receive an amount at which no horse could be laid against by a bookmaker at present, and thus ample room is left for speculation. The favorite is undoubtedly Weka, from Auckland, with Camel and Lot-

tery close up, but Dolphin, Musician, St. Michael, Jessie, and Locomotive had friends, and nearly every animal engaged found some* sort of price. On Tuesdav evening next, a second sweep is to be" drawn at the same sporting rendezvous. By-the-bye, an advertisement in our columns announces the sale by auction, on Saturday next, of two sites for refreshment booths at the forthcoming Queen's Birthday Steeplechases, tho stewards having been thoughtful enough to erect a grand stand, with room underneath for booths, thus saving the publicans considerable outlay. The Clerk of the Course will be in attendance at Mr. John Staee's gate, foot of Cashel street, at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon (Friday), to point out the site, and give all requisite particulars to intending purchasers. A Chbistchttech Hunt Club. — We understand that it is proposed to establish a pack of drag hounds in Chrislchurch, and to form a Hunt Club. The originator of this sporting idea, Mr Hamilton, has just received a favorable answer from Mr George Watson, the well-known master of the Melbourne hounds, to the effect that he can at once furnish a clever little pack, and it is to be hoped that this almost only deficiency in the homelike field sports of Canterbury will now be supplied. It is the intention of the promoter to place himself in the hands of a committee of those gentlemen favorable to starting a Hunt Club. Fatal Accident. —A distressing accident occurred atOkain's Bay in the early part of the week, by whicli the eldest son of Mr Thacker lost his life. It appears that the deceased was driving a bullock dray, and the team, by suddenly increasing its pace, jolted the unfortunate lad from the dray under the wheels, which, passing over his head, killed him instantaneously. Accident. —An accident occurred yesterday to Mr. Watts Russell's carriage. It had been left opposite the Bank of New Zealand, and the horses taking fright, the lad in charge was not able to hold them, and they dashed off up Cashel street at a furious rate. When opposite the Rotherfield hotel, the carriage came in contact with a dray which it overset, miraculously not in the least hurting the horse which was in the shafts. The pole of the carriage was broken by tbe concussion, and the horses being released bolted round the corner of Cashel street into Lichfield street, and from thence up High and Colombo streets, dragging the pole of the carriage with them until they were ultimately stopped in Gloucester street, opposite the Shakespeare hotel. The horses were much cut about the legs, and the carriage also received considerable damage. Chbistian Knowledge Society. — A meeting of the members of this society was held yesterday evening in the City Council office, at half-past four o'clock. The following members were present:—Revds J. C. Bagshaw, H. Torlesse, G. Carpenter, and Messrs J. W. Smith and G. Gordon, also the Venerable Archdeacon Jacobs, who presided. Prayers having been read, the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Rev. C. Bowen, enclosing his subscription, and asking for a grant of tracts and books for distribution amongst the various diggers on the West Coast gold-fields, many of whom expressed to him an earnest desire for such reading for themselves, and as a means of benefiting their neighbours. The Committee regretted that at present they were unable to make any grant. The Secretary was requeated to inform Mr Bowen that the Rev. J. C. Bagshaw would most kindly supply him with some books. The Secretary was requested to write to the Board of Education, stating that the Committee had a quantity of educational books which they were not desirous of keeping, and were willing to offer to the Board at a reduction ; this to be subject to any previous arrangements entered into by the Rev. Mr Lingard. A general meeting of the subscribers was decided should be called at a period within three weeks, at which meeting the financial state of the society should be gone into, and measures taken to relieve it from Jits present embarrassment. The Committee adjourned at six o'clock. The New Ministby. — The Wellington correspondent of the "Daily Times," in his last letter, says : —" That nothing relative to the reconstruction of the Ministry is yet announced, is, I believe, owing to two causes: one being the absence of the Governor, and the other the time inevitably consumed by correspondence. The Governor's sanction has, I am told, been requested to the gazetting of Mr. Paterson as Postmaster-General, it having been ascertained or understood that the continuance of that gentleman in the Ministry will, on the whole, prove acceptable to the Otago representatives. Colonel Haultain's has always been looked upon as a permanent appointment, and will probably be so ; but Colonel Russell is still generally regarded as only filling the Native Minister's seat temporarily. It is said that offers of a seat in the Cabinet have been made to one or two gentlemen, and declined ; but that by the mails due here on the 7th and Bth, acceptances are expected sufficient to enable Mr Stafford to submit a complete Ministry for his Excellency's approval. I mentioned a few weeks ago that Wellington was likely to be represented, though probably from the Upper House ; and it is now said that the Hon Mr Johnston has had the Treasurership pressed upon him, but without success. Of all the public men I know, none are'better qualified for this post than Mr Johnston, and it is a matter of much regret that his business engagements should have led him to decline 'it. He would have j had to seek a seat in the Lower House, but there would have been no difficulty ou that score, as one of the Wellington city members would gladly have made way for him, and there would have been no opposition. The regret at Mr Johnston's refusal to accept the Treasurership is, however, somewhat modified by the understanding that he has consented to join the Ministry without a portfolio, and will, I presume, take charge of the Government business in the Upper House. It is probable that a Canterbury member (not Mr. Ward) will be treasurer ; at any rate it is asserted that it has been offered to one, and that it is believed the offer will be accepted. It has been currently reported that Dr. Featherston will take office ; but while I believe the offer to do so has. been pressed upon him, he has, on the score of ill health, amongst other reasons, finally declined to avail himself of it. Everything connected with ministerial arrangements has been kept remarkably quiet here, and it is only in the inner political circle that the information now communicated —sparse though it be—has any circulation. Expected Abbival of the Goveenoe. —The |" Daily Times" correspondent, at Wellington, gives the plainest intimation we have yet had of his Excellency's intended movements. Writing on the 4th inst. (Friday last), he says : —"I mentioned in my last that the purport of the Governor's despatches had been sent to him at Auckland. We hear by the -mail to-day, that on the steamer's arrival, the Government Agent there telegraphed to the Waikato, where his Excellency was, * that important papers had arrived, where should they be sent to ? " The Governor's reply was, " send them back to Wellington, where I shall be in a few days." At Government-house they are expecting Sir George to-day, but there is a promised visit up the Wanganui river to pay first, which, if his Excellency keeps, will detain him some days yet."