THE Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED. EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1886.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2026, 2 December 1886, Page 2

THE Marlborough Times. PUBLISHED. EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1886.

Whilst we have every sympathy with the Temperance movement, which we regard as ])ar excellence the movement of the day, we object to itinerant lecturers of the Glover, Noble, Burnett type quite as much as we object to the blatant blasphemy of the ordinary Freethought bawler. The chief end in most instances is the takings, and we cannot believe that any gr-at good is done by the ordinary Temperance lecturer. Of course there are exceptions as in the case of John B. Gough whose marvellously unique utterances and splendid oratory brought thousands to enrol under the Temperance banner. But we are not speaking of exceptions which, after all, prove the rule, and we never had any sympathy with the platform exponents of the type we have mentioned. W e cannot conceive that they do any great good, notwithstanding Sir Julius Vogel’s assurance that the celicit iu the estimated revenue is due to the more sober habits of the people, and notwithstanding the telegrams which frequently inform us that so many thousand pledges were taken in such and such a district during the (i mission” of some Temperance big-gun. These pledges, when they are not taken by sympathisers, are very rarely kept long,and the drinking class is hardly ever reached through the medium of the Temperance platform advocate. Good in this direction is done by stealth and not by the public recital of instances of downward courses suddenly checked and the happy results attending the reformation of the drunkard. The fact is these wandering lecurers stir up some enthusiasm fora time; a hard, wellseasoned rum-cask turns into the paths of sobriety and there is much ado. But what about the lapse into iniquity l It often happens that tbe brand plucked from the burning—-the “awful example”— strays again to the bar counter and calls a 3 regularly as ever for his “ arf-pint.” The itenerant lecturer is a mistake, because he creates an unhearthly excitement for which, after his departure, there is no relief for the temporarily reformed drunkard but “ the cup that cheers and inebriates.” For this reason, and because we do not believe in the efficacy of his work we are not sorry to learn that a lecturer at present in the Colony hat received very little in the shape of money contributions, though we are sorry to know that his circumstances are so embarrassed as to necessitate a public appeal for assistance.

At the first meeting of the recently elected Hospital Board, held yesterday, a letter was received from one of the Canterbury Boards soliciting the expression of an opinion from the Wairau Board as to the disposal of delirium tremens cases. The Board, we think, would have been wise had it left the matter alone, and allowed the Canterbury Board to fight the question out with the Justice Depaitment. Bat, in its wisdom, the Wairau Board has decided to cn-operate in some representation to Parliament on the subject. We quite agree with Mr Ward that the hospitals are not the pro .per places fer the treatment of delirium tremens cases, but tho Hon Mr Tole we know, from personal conversation with the Minister, is guided by the most humane coniidemtions in his determination to refuse admittance to such cases at the gao ! s. Manv a good man falls a victim to alcoholic madners, and it is bard that in such cases a return to health and reason should be obtained only by wearing the felon’s brand. The gaol and hospital are equally unfit places for the treatment of such cases ; but until the country is in a position to support Inebriate Asylums the hospitals might reasonably be expected to charitab’y afford an asylum for the unfortunate drunkard. Delirium tremens cases could surely be isolated in such a manner as to provide against the ordinary hospital patients being disturbed.

It has been represented to us that it not infrequently happens that a death occurs at the hospital and that the deceased is buried before hiß friends and acquaintances know of his decease. We do not mean to say that his immediate friends and relatives are not communicated with. We shppose.they are, But friends and acquaintances, who might like to pay the last tribute of respect in their power, are sometimes debarred from attending a hospital funeral because they have not heard of the death of their friend or acquaintance as the case may be. If he Hospital Steward will kindly communicate with us whenever a death occurs in the institution under his care we will undertake to make an announcement in onr obitnry columns, free of charge, in order that the friends of the deceased may be enabled to attend the funeral.

Mr John Kerb, the burly member for Waimea, has acquired distinction of a creditable kind, as the following extract from a Southern paper wi.l show : “ The travelling allowances, paid to Ms.H.R. last session ranged from L2l- received by Mr Bevan to LI 10 received by Mr ; Kerr. A number of members received an allowance for.“ extra freight.” It does not ex-j plain what this signifies, whether. jt means adipose tissue or heaviness of brain Nddonbt it is something of use in connpc- 1

tion with their Parliamentary duties.’' One thing we remember in lioking over the return here referred to at tho time i r was presented to Parliament, was tha - , in connection with the “ extra freights,” the largest sum set down for tit's purpose appeared opposite the name of a Soutlp-ru member of the Lower Honse, who had just prevousily taken up his residence in » Northern c ty. That member, probably also removed bis household furniture. And that member is one of the loudest 1 economy-crying, popularity-hunting men in the House.