A PROTEST.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9894, 22 January 1895, Page 4

A PROTEST.

Sra,— l am at a loss to understand bow it happens that the Napier Working Men's Clab Is so otten brought np as a batt for tha temperance patty, and can only conclude that it is jealousy of the wonderful uacceea which it has had, owing, no doubt, to its excellent management, which ha* npaeb the liver of Messrs "Nimbas" and " Antl.Gnzz'e." " Nimbna " asserts that the dab "is ran on the ssme lines as a public- honae, and the sole aim of every nftwly-elected committee Is to increase the bar trade." I beg to differ from him, as>, with the view of encoaregiog " Nlmbas " and others to come and spend their spare time in a rational manner, tea, coffee, acd temperanca drinks are provided, and every committee is particularly observant ot the role prohibiting intemperance on the premise?. Where Is there a pnblich mse which provides a library (second to none la the colony), a readiog-room with all the latest periodicals, &e., and a aocial hall which is fonnd too small for the numbar of members and friends who attend the free entertainments ? At the ' present time the architect is preparing plans and specifications for increased accommodation in the ball, and no doubt Mr' Bill's suggestion re technical and other c'qescs will, on its completion, bo dUcossed by the committee, and I think favorably entertained. Why did not " Nimbuß " avail himself of the opportnn- . ity of learning Frenob when M, Bonrgeois offered to teach the language, and the dab granted the nee of a room two nights a week ? An elocution class was started, bat fell through for want of the able assistance of men of "Nimbns" calibre. As to the bar (which seems to be the bone of contention), the Sunday hours are from 11 to 1 in tbe morning, and 8 to 10 in the evening ; and oat of 760 members who belong to the lmaltntibn very few goto the bar at all on Sundays, bat those wbo do avail themselves of the privilege prefer going where they can quench their thirst) in a legitimate way rather than sneaking in ab the back door of an hotel. Tbe main object of eac'u committee has always been >o discourage Intemperance, and in carrying ont their duties they have bad to be very stiict, end in ono or two ca«es have had to suspend members from tbe privileges of the bar, and from the tone of his letter I should take "Niaibas" to be one of the unfortunate ones who is not allowed to enjoy his threepenny beer, and cinseqnently is jealous of those who era tiako it in moderation. Now for Mr " AnliGozz'e," who enter3 a "protest "and culls "CliimaV "sweeb j humility 1 ' to noconnt 1 Ha starts by complaining that tho clnb does not tmblish tho BUiiual b>\atc:-^hcnt. Q'jito i lijlht, too. What bnsinrs< hns the club to clrcnlate p'irticnUiP of Hb items of rrCelpbs <wi expenditure ? If ho is "ox'oos to get the correct i'mnten for tho Prohibit lionis' I bave n;> doabli that tbo club secretary wonld be willing to wive him them, nnd at tho samo time tell him how rniich of the cum he aaserts as having been received for "strong drink" was aotaally paid for temperance dilnks. To my tbidklng (and I speak as a member and one who does not tnke fltroDg drink) n very large proportion was received for ce rated waters, cordials, &o , all of ■which are approved by the prohitiltonfsf; par»y Gambling is not allowed on tbe club prero'«eß, acd t rt.-fy him to prove that If la, Prffhip-= if t'e w;rr> >o j'lin for a time lie would have a he'tw impre'Blon ; ii. would nob hnrt the c'nb tor Irm to bee me a: member, und I am confident that he conld do do harm to the institution. As an, instanco of a small amount) ot tha

good done by the dab, I may mention ; that In about twelve months considerably over £100 has been donated to various relief iundp, and 'collections have also been taken up oa behalf' of cases ot distress, I must apologise for takiog up sa ranch of your valuable space, and trust that in future the opponents o! the club will let the members think for themselves, and not try to interfere with the management) of a private Institution.— l am, &c, . A Member. January 21, 1895. ' |Thla oloses the correspondence on thla subject.— Ed 8.8.8.]