Prohibition Association

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 4980, 22 May 1891, Page 4

Prohibition Association

FAREWELL SOIREE TO MR E. T. SMITH. A farewell soirie to Mr E- T. Smith, »nd to celebrate the inauguration of the Prohibition Association, was held last niffht in the Public Hall and was eminently successful. Sir Smith has conducted such a rigorous crusade in the district as to have taken the people quite by storm, and it must have been gratifying to him to have such a large gathering assemble in hj» honor. He has, during his short sojourn in the colony, effected more real work, probably than any other bird of passage has been privileged to a«omplish. Out of five contests which Mr Smith has conducted between the Prohibition and the Moderate parties, he has brought four to a successful issue, and we heartily hope that he will be as successful in Timaru and other places which he intends to visit as he has been here. Tea was announced last night for 6 o'clock, and the tables, whichliteially groaned beneath a weight of good things, were all well tilled once. The tea wjw managed by the me?n " bers of the newly-formed Association, and every credit» due to theni for the success of their initial effort on behalf of the Associatton. The platform of the Association has been already pubbshed by us in extenso, and there is therefore no need to detail it again. After tea, the hall was re-arranged for the great farewell entertainment, and at the hour for starting a splendid house had assembled to give Mr Smith a hearty send off, and to launch the new Association with . The Rev. A. B. Todd, who occupied the chair, saidl have been requested to take the chair this evening, and give a short address. lam pleased that it must he short, and I suppose you are also pleased. It is bad taste in a chairman to make a long speech, ami to do so on this occasion after nil yon have heard during the last fortnight would be like pouring water on a drowned mouse : and this I do not intend to do. It is a fact which cannot be disputed that the community are awaking to realise the great abuses of the liquor traffic. Among the remedies pro posed is that of Prohibition. Speaking to a gentleman some time ago, I was told that the prohibiting laws in America were regularly evaded, and that there was a great amount of sly grog-selling, as he himself had witnessed since that time. J have read up on the subject, and I that in the States of lowa and Kansas the law is strictly enforced, and the result has been a great reform. Thousands <>f wives and children are now better fed and clothed than they were when the saloons absorbed the greater part of the>earnings of their husbands and fathers. The public sentiment in these States is overwhelming against the liquor traffic. The reform is not so general in the State of Maine, as the prohibiting I:\wh are not so .strenuously carried out. And the inference I draw from this fact is tint the_ public sentiment must be In accordance with Prohibition to effect a general reform. We are greatly indebted to Mr E. T. Smith for helping forward this movement, by the addresses he has delivered. As the programme is full and varied, I shall not further occupy your time. Mr G. Jones, sen., president of the Association, in rising to present Mr Smith with an address from that body, delivered a few practical remarks on the great question at issue. The past, he stated, was gone from us, the present was yet with us, and it behoved all those earnest workers who had the interest of Prohibition at heart to keep the principles thereof in view, and bring in the general public to their Association by every possible legitimate means. And first of all their efforts must be concentrated on educating the people up to the necessary standard. There was no use in laying down and enforcing a law until the people had declared themselves in favor of that law. They must work steadily, cautiously and firmly, or all their achievements in the past would be in vain. He was glad to see so many people present, and trusted all would enjoy themselves. It was intended that they should enjoy themselves in a legitimate manner, morally and socially. He thought that regular entertainments should be organised in connection with the Prohibition Association. Having warmly eulogised Mr Smith s efforts in the temperance cause, Mr Jones read the following address : To Mr Edward Tenuyaon Smith, Sir,—The Executive of the Prohibition Association feel that they are under a great obligation to you, and they are pleased to have this opportunity of expressing their gratitude for the valuable assistance you have rendered during the past few weeks to the canse of Temperance and Prohibition in the north of Otago. _ The victory achieved in Oamaru through the earnest and long-continued work of devoted men and women wasaldo yot.r victory, and the highly successful result of the Mocraki election, lieing the best yet reported in the colony, mnst be very gratifying to yon after your powerful addresses in that district. . . We also wish to express our appreciation of your character as a Christian worker in the temperance canse, and our admiration of the talent you display as a dramatic platform orator. Night after night the crowded meetings testified to your ability to instruct and rouse to earnestness great numbers of people. No such enthusiastic and successful temperance meetings had ever been previously held in Oamaru. We therefore sincerely hope that the temperance friends in new Zealaud will secure your services, and in so doing thej will assuredly advance and strengthen the good citnac in their midst, and enjoy an intellectual treat. In conclusion, we wish you • ,r> d speed m your work, and an affectionate farewell. Signed on liehalf of the Convention. George JOSE*, Sn>n., President. Waltkr Seth-Smith, Hon. Secretary.

IVlr E. T. Smith, rising to reply, very warmly thunked both the Association and the public generally for the many kind things they had said of him. He would always have many pleasant memories connected with his visit to Oatnaru, and not the least of these would he the recollection of this last meeting. He felt that the address of the Association voiced the feelings of a great number of people, and it was pleasant to feel that his services were so greatly appreciated. He had received many addresses in his time, hut they had never been able to embody what the present one eiuljodied—congratulations at a grand victory. His visit to Qamaru would always remain a green spot in his memory. He had derived much encouragement from his _ mission here. They had had enthusiastic meetings, and not one complaining or unkind letter had been sent to him. He thought, perhaps, he was getting too big a share of the thanks, and they must rememlier that there were others—the ladies, the Committee, and outside friends—who had all struggled long and arduously, and helped to win the great victory. The day of the election was a red-letter day in his experience. He had been thinking during the day of a number of men who had worked for years and years, and grown grey in the cause, and died without the sight of prohibition. Poor Gough had died in harness and had never seen it, and his heart was sad at the thought of these noble men who had borne the burden and beat of the day and into whose reward others had entered. They had had to face opposition, and persecution even, and we must not therefore forget to accord them their weß-deservcd recognition. It was something for him to remember that he had been present at the inauguration of the Prohibition Association. The basis of it was pretty well understood, he thought, but he did not wish people to run away ■jrith the idea tbnt it was to supersede any noting association. It was to bo an

auxiliary of the AlluincCt and was to further the interests of temperance and to federate temperance. He advocated meetings of the association held regularly, and also regular entertainments to draw the people and counteract the attractions of the public houses- He had also experienced much pleasure in starting the Onward Lodge, and was glad to see that so many of the young people of the town evidently had their hearts in the temperance work. He hoped that when the anniversary of their victory came round they would hold a grand demonstration. He only hoped that he might be able to attend, and they must not think that they were not to see him again. He hoped all would give their help and co-operation towards forwarding the objects of the Association. Perhaps the basis of the Association was not perfect in the eyes of all. but they must not look for what did not suit them in the platform of the Association, but for what did suit them. The platform had only been settled after much deliberation by some of the most levelheaded men, and women too, in Oamaru. The Association must strike at the drink traffic. If they did not slay it they would lie slain by it. A legislator in Australia had stated that the curse of the country was the rabbit plague. The curse of the country was not the rabbit plague, be only wished it were, but it was strong drink. They must give the publicans fair play. They had done so in the past, and none had come forward to urge their claims, except one man at Otepopo, who had, however, been effectually routed. The reason the publicans had not come forward was because they had nothing to say. The publicans accused them of not acting fairly, but he wondered which party was the fairer. Despite the wish of the people the publicans had petitioned to have the election upset, and, instead of acquiescing in the deliberate demand of the people, were attempting to get the law to go in direct opposition to the public wish. Which party were the most conscientious ? He personally did not think the petitions would be successful, but, if they were, and another election ensued, he believed the Prohibition party would have a majority, not of 40, but of 240. He knew of a licensed house at Maheno for which L2OO rent was paid, and which, without the license, would be worth at the very most LSO per annum. Why should they give a person Ll5O a year 1 Why should they enhance the value of that house and not the value of every tradesman's house I And yet, after bleeding the people, the publicans cried out for compensation. A publican's widow had gone to a friend during his mission and asked him not to light against her, as she was a w.dow, and her children were dependent on the hotel traffic. The children, indeed. What about the poor miserable children whose bread was taken out of their very mouths by the accursed drink traffic. Such hypocrisy and sefishness made him sick. 3lr Smith drew a a clever histrionic picture of the drunkard and the prohibitionist at their own homes. He was going away now to Timaru to help to fight the battle there, and then elsewhere. He had been looking forward many years for his reward and it had come in the victory here. They must educate the people to a proper moral tone, and they would soon banish strong drink. They must push on, do their work cheerfully, do it prayerfully, remembering that their work lay on earth and their strength in God. He hoped all would help the Association, and, in conclusion, he wished to thank not only the workers and the committee for their kindly help and symjiathy, but also the Press. Sir Smith wound up by the delivery of one of Cough's great perorations, and resumed his seat amidst loud applause. Mr A. Adams, of Dunedin, who has been retained in the interests of the Prohibition party in the hearing of the petitions, also made a few remarks urging the Prohibitionists to stick together, and stating that the other districts were watching them and looking to them to prove that prohibition would be a benefit and not a loss to the town.

During the evening songs and musical selections were contributed by Sirs Gould, Mrs Oliver, Misses Mainland, Oliver, and Grenfell, and Messrs Rase and Waymouth, and Mr E. T. Smith also gave two recitations. The accompaniments were played by Mrs Gould and Misses Oliver and Mitchell, and Mr Karl contributed a flute obbligato to Mrs Gould's song. The singing of " God Save the Queen " by the audience brought a successful meeting to a close.