TEMPERANCE DEMONSTRATION.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 350, 21 February 1879, Page 3

TEMPERANCE DEMONSTRATION.

Last evening a temperance demonstration in connection with tho annual council of the Roehablfcos was held at the Imperial Opera House. Owing to the unpropitious weather, there was only a small attendance. Mr. J. G. Hold&worth presided. The Chairman traced the history of the temperance movement, from its origin in America in the year 1803. and said that ho supposed, upon the last calculation, there could not be fewer than 4,000,000 total abstainers in the United Kingdom. If he were not deceived, the next general election at Heine would tell a talo that would lead many a man to think twice before he opposed the temperance cause. (Cheers.) The speaker also stated that he had far more faith in moral suasion than in legislation, adding that, if tvrr a Permissive Bill were passed, ways and means would be found of evading it. The Rev. Mr. Williams referred to the change which had come over public op'nion with reference to the temperance question, observing that the opinions which 30 years a E o were denounced as the delusions of crackbrained enthusiasts, were now endorsed by the highest authorities in the land. Ho did not agree with the chairman on the subject of legislation. Referring to the events of the last session of the New Zealand Parliament ho said ho did not so much regard the fact that the Government was obliged to throw out the Beer Duty Bill— although he considered that a ground ot complaint— but he regarded tho fact that m this land it was so clearly shown that the power of regulating the liquor traffic really lay in the hands of men whose direct interest it was to delugo the country with strong drink. (Hear, hear.) He regarded it as a shame and disgrace to us as a colony that the publicans and brewers of New Zealand should dare tbe Colonial Parliament to lay a baud on that which was the cause of so much mischief in the land. He had no hope that it would be otherwisp until the temperance men had the courage of their opinions at election times, and sent men to Parliament who would not be cajoled (ChS) by brewers or PuWict»nß.ii""^ 1 - Sheßrif (of Blenheim) also fh££fcf!»ki? m . ee , lin^ observing that he thought public opinion was not yet ripe for tho Permissive BUI. Ho thought they should endeavor to get some modifications in the existing licensing law, including a provision for making licensing commissioners elective """""B The itev. Mr. Richardson, Mr. Pricb (who was strongly in favor of legislative interference), and the Rev. H. B. Rbdstomb also spoke. The Rev. J. Patbisow, who follows! stated that be did not believe in wrS pledges. He thought that a man should make a resolution, and act upon it so long as he was in that mind. He bad very little faith in the power of law to put down intemperance, but he had faith in moral suasion. He added that he mu»t say for Wellington that he had seen nothing like the amount of drunkenness in it that he had seen in cities in the Old Country. The proceedings concluded with a vote oi thanks to the speakers, proposed by Mr Fkabbr.