TEMPERANCE REFORM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 183, 5 August 1896, Page 2

TEMPERANCE REFORM.

Tbere was a largo attendanoe at the Theatre Boyal laßt evening, when the Rev. L. M. Isitt oontlnued his temperance mission. Mi) J. W. Joynt presided, and in a few introductory remarks said that whilst he syrnp timed with the cause of temperance, he disliked much that was done uuder the Prohibition banner. At the same time he was sure that Mr Isitt's remarks would be most attentively listened to, espeoially as all recognised tbe enormons influence of women in a oanse of this kind,

Mr Isitt expressed his keen appreciation of the Chairman's remarks, As to Prohibition, he greatly regretted that its champions bad not an opportunity of disouaaing publicly its olaims with worthy and honest opponents. Where hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of property in vested interests were involved, surely the question was worth earnest and fair discussion Ooming to the subject of his disoourse, " The relations of women to the Liquor Tralfio,, her temptation and her duty," Mr Isitt, at tbe outset, said he had recognised the wisdom of women's franohise from bis youth. Many were the predictions ot the due effects of the women's franohise to her sex. -he would loose '* the bloom of modesty," and "goodness knows what else," said Mr Isitt, jet despite this " cant " of men, who failed to see any harm in women frequenting racecourses and questionable plaoos of amusement, nothing very terrible had happened. While denying women the righ of the franohise, how many of the Lords of creation continued to put " the bloom on their nasal organs " by drinking, and saw no h <rm iv breaking up homes and making wives and ohildren miserable, Mr Isitt drew a sorrowful pioture of homes blasted and lives wreoked by the evils of the traffic. He [appealed earnestly to men, as men, for the sake of wivos and children to abstain from intoxicating liquors. Drunken men were bad enough, but God help the country when the wiveß and mothers took to the drink, and Mr Isitt related what he had seen during his recent visit to England of tho mariner in which women drunkards were increasing He gave somo shocking instances of crime and cruelty by mothers in order to satisfy their craving for strong drink. Ho spoke of the extraordinary ingenuity of women in cases of emeigency, and appealed to them to exercise their peculiar ingenuity in the cause of temperance, and to voto conscientiously at tho local option poll. Their responsibility in this matter was pressed home to them. If only tho women of New Zealand would exercise their power rightly they would afford an 1 object lesson to the world, and very speedily in every civilised country, women would have a voice in the making of its laws. At the oonolusion of Mr Isitt's address the chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to the rev gentleman, whioh was carried by acclamation, Mr lain's subject for to-night, tbe last nieeting of this mission, ia " Liqour and Revenue."

The executive of the Nelson Prohibition Oounoil will meet ac the close of to-night's meeting.