PUBLIC MEETING AT WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume XV, Issue 661, 27 September 1871, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING AT WAIMATE

A meeting to further the introduction of the Permissive Bill was held m the Temperance Hall Waimate, on the 18th inst. The Chairman, Mr George Manchester, briefly stated the object of the meeting, and requested a fair and impartial hearing to the various speakers. He would call upon the JRev. JR. Bavin to address the meeting. The JRev. JJR. Bavin after congratulating the meeting on the large attendance, entered at some length on the evils arising from intemperance, and m drawing a comparison between tiie statistics of intemperance of the old country and the colony said the vice was of more extent m New Zealand. The multiplication of public houses was but Bimply adding to the means of obtaining liquors, and the Permissive JBill gave power to the majority of the ratepayers to say what number of public-houses should be allowed m a district. The rev gentleman spoke fully of the advantages to be derived from a district adopting the Permissive Bill, and then went on to compare Sir W. Lawson's and other acts. He denied that a Permissive Bill was class legislation — that it was one law fpr the rich and another for the poor. Working men m England had come forward with petitions ih favor of a Permissive BiU. Such a bill gave power to a majority, and its action was far removed from anything like tyranny, as some of its opponents asserted. The rev. gentleman concluded by earnestly begging all present to sign the petition. Mr J. JMJanchester said although not a total abstainer, he greatly sympathised m the movement. Public-houses were private property, and when the number of such houses interfered with the safety of the population, some alteration should be made. It was easy for the Government to sum up the gain derived from the customs duties, but not so easy to tell the evils arising from the sale of intoxicating drinks. The loss of revenue from a restricted sale of intoxicating drinks could not for a moment be compared with the benefits arising from a restriction. He had much pleasure m moving the first resolution — "That this meeting views with alarm the magnitude of the traffic m intoxicating drinks. That to this traffic may be traced the largest portions of the burdens borne by the people ; m that not only is the liquor tranic destructive to the lives, health, and happiness of thousands of men, women, and children, but it entails upon all ratepayers, householders, consumers, and society at large an immense amount of taxation, injustice, and indirect oppression." Mr S. W. Goldsmith briefly seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr Graham — who moved the second resolution — said he was delighted to see the progress that Sir W. JLawson's Bill was making amoug the English people from year to year. The evils of drinking were not' of a local character ; they were general and wide-spread, and it was the duty of all to do their utmost to check these evils. Mr Graham then dwelt atsome length on the miseries m families arising from intemperance, and concluded by moving : — "That this meeting, regarding as a gross injustice and an infringment of the rights of the colonists at large, that they should be taxed so heavily to uphold a system so productive of evil, so fruitful m crime, and so. morally- debasing as the present liquor traffic is proved to be, petition the General Assembly to frame a measure that will place m the hands of the ratepayers the power to deal with the licensed houses m their respective districts." Mr Gaitt briefly seconded the resolution, which was carried. The next resolution, moved by Mr W. Sercombe and seconded by Mr Pratt, was as follows : — "That petitions be drawn up and presented to the General Assembly m its present session, praying that a Bill may be prepared and passed, embodying the principles set forth m the Bill brought into the British House of Commons, by Sir Wilfred Lawson, ahd which is commonly known as: the Permissive Bill, and that the said petitions be signed by every adult, male and female, inhabitant m the district." The motion was carried. No opposition was offered to any of the resolutions, and the meeting— for Waimate — was a very full one, there being fully 160 persons present.