A TRIP THROUGH THE HOTELS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1296, 27 November 1911, Page 5

A TRIP THROUGH THE HOTELS.

ADDRESS HY THE REV. E. 0: BLAMIRES. The New Theatro was packed at the Central Mission Service last night, when tho Missioner {the Rev. ¥~ 0. Blamires) described in detail "a trip through the hotels. Ho referred to the necessity for attacking an evil in particular rather tunn in general terms. Sobriety and temperance were being preached by all cla«cs of people to-day, and Lowell's words wcro shown to be the languago of many:

"I'm willin' a man should go toll'ablo strong 'Gainst wrong in tho abstract: for that kind o' wrong Is alius unpop'lar, and never gets pitied Because it's a crime no one ever committed. Ho wont through the hotels (o see what was the effect of the "trade," not to act as a spy, but as a public man feeling a burden of responsibility concerning the pubhehouscs, which lie, in common with all other citizens, forming together a collective citizenship, had been licensing. A tremendous trade was being carried on: 7,161 men and 510 women had emerged from tho hotels on a recent Saturday between 9 and 10 o'clock; 2500 of thc-'e were considered to be under the age of 30 years, and 567 wore under the influence of liquor; 823 people had emerged in a tiuarter of an hour after ten o'clock. Practically 10 per cent, of the population of Wellington were in the hotels between 0 and 10 o'clock. Hn described tho general influence of tho publichouso. It was pernicious, an agent of destruction, a bar, truly named, to purify, sobriety, health, and prosperity. He" had seen youths brought by indulgence to a state of absolute bestiality, and though such were to be blamed and pitied, blame also attached to the drinker who helped by his vote to continue a system for the legalised ensnaring of the immature and unthinking. A parent's duty was to provide his children with a health yenvironment: such, too. was the duly of the collective citizenship for its children, in regard to character. Ho deprecated tho presence of 510 women in the hotels. In Dunedin not a woman was seen by him in any of the bars, and the condition of things in "Wellington vus so serious as fo call for the earnest consideration of all thinking citizens. Were they willing to continue a system that helped so many women to endanger their very womanhood? It was a poignant question. He had listened to tbo conversation in the hotels. It savoured more of whisky than wisdom, and not a single .word had he hoard that by any chance whatsoever, could tend to the betterment of character, or tho oxalt'ng of true manhood or womanhood. He apnealed to the citizens of Wellington on behalf of the young manhood, whose nobility was iu danger, on behalf of the publicans and brewers, many of whom would bo better men out of the trade, and for the safeguarding of a righteous national life, and a pure home influence to seriously consider the facts he had placed before them, and vote at the forthcoming elections accordingly. Miss Ward sang a solo "Je.su, Lover of My Soul."