THE GOOD TEMPLARS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6439, 2 December 1881, Page 2

THE GOOD TEMPLARS.

The Good Templar Lodges in New Zealand have under consideration a circular issued in view of the coming election. It has been published outside the Lodges, and, as a manifesto of the political intentions of a numerically powerful organisation, demands attention. The circular commences with this sentence:—“The time has come for the enemies of intemperance to press the battle to the gate.” Mention is made in confident terms of the strength of the Temperance force, and the fact that during the last session of Parliament provision was made for taking a popular vote in regard to the issue of new licenses and making the Licensing Bench elective is referred to as a strong testimony to the prevalence of Temperance sentiment in the community. Then follows an avowal of the ultimatum of the Temperance party, thus defined : —“ The ultimatum of theTeraperance party is prohibition, either by direct vote of the Legislature or by the will of the people in their respective dist riots. If the people have a right to a vote upon the issue of new licenses they have a right to a vote upon old licenses. The public-house exists simply as a professed public convenience, and it is for the public, and the public alone, to say whether they will any longer tolerate what has become something very like a public pestilence.” The intemperate language used herein is characteristic of the Temperanoe advocates. They will not, or cannot, recognise the fact that abuse of those who are not with them weakens the Temperance cause. The compilers of the circular uuder notice next assume that there will be a rallying of the opposing forces. They say the ‘ ‘ trade ” w ill not surrender at discretion ; but yet by unity among “ the friends of Temperance, of social order, of public virtue, and of true religion,” the next election may be made decisive. Asserting that the question of the power of prohibiting liquor traffic is pre-eminent over all other social and political questions, because it concerns the direct expenditure in this colony of two and a-half millions sterling per annum, and is the cause of three-fourths of the prevalent crime, lunacy, and pauperism, the Temperance bodies are recommended how to act. The recommendations are these :—“ That care be taken to secure the registration of every qualified elector, and that meetings of those representing these bodies shall be called (say, by the chief officer of the largest local Temperance organisation) in each electoral district of the colony, for the purpose of taking united action, and securing a united vote on the following issues :—(1) Questioning the various candidates on the subject of local option, and offering support to those who will maintain and extend it; and (2), where possible, nominating candidates who will adequately represent the temperance principle, and maintain its political platform.” There are two issues involved in the manifesto under notice demanding attention. The Good Templars are still non-contents. The Licensing Act does not satisfy them, they call for more power ; nothing short of absolute prohibition of the liquor trade will suffice. They intend, where possible, to nominate candidates who will “ adequately represent ” the temperance principle. Among all reasonable people satisfaction has prevailed 'at the passing of the Licensing Act of last session. It boots not our present argument to refer at any length to the long protracted fight, the interminable debate, and the ultimate concessions made by both sides, which led to the Licensing Bill being adopted in a form which was a fair compromise. That the Act, as it stands, is not a model measure, or that it could not be made infinitely less cumbrous and restrictive without in any degree impairing its usefulness, few will dispute. If any further legislation is needed in reference to the licensing question, it would be in the direction of condensing and simplifying the present measure ; but that would be a most hazardous experiment, because it would open up the whole question, and lead probably to the total disruption of a Statute which should, in deference to public opinion and expediency, have a fair trial. We regret that in this opinion the Good Templar organisation does not concur, but deliberately proposes to again raise debate with the view of obtaining absolutely prohibitive powers against the liquor traffic : an overweening, an overreaching conceit, which will ultimate in nothing beyond obstructing the progress of necessary legislation on other subjects. Then, again, it is the misfortune of the Good Templars of the colony that, however desirous they may be to obtain " adequate ” representation in the House, their choice has hitherto fallen upon most inefficient representatives —that is, if legislative talent, gentlemanly training, good social standing, and well-balanced reasoning and debating powers are deemed essentials to the position. It is a fact that, garrulous and argumentative as the Good Templar members of the late Parliament were, they commanded the least measure of respect of any in the House, and their influence was insignificant; nor from present appearances is there any better class of candidates coming forward in the Good Templar cause. It is not necessary to go far afield for proof that all that is demagogic, vulgarly effusive, Ultra-Radical, and unreasoning ranges itself under the Good Templar political banner. Now, this is very much to be regretted, because it can have but one effect, namely, in confirming the public opinion, that the usefulness of an otherwise estimable public body is marred by ill-advised counsels and rashly inconsiderate representatives. If the cause of Temperance is to be steadily advanced, a work in which all should give legitimate aid, it will neither be by attempts to obtain undue power, nor by accepting the advocacy of frothy orators, men who noise and bluster on the platform, even as they would, if permitted, “beat the drum ecclesiastic.” The Temperance manifesto under notice is not likely to advance the cause of true temperance, for it is in itself intemperate and unreasonable. The present Licensing Act should not be meddled with until by the actual test of experience it has been shown that it does not fulfil all that its supporters anticipated.