THE WOLVES OF SOCIETY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1760, 21 June 1877, Page 3

THE WOLVES OF SOCIETY.

The Bey. Dr Copland recently delivered a lecture at the Young Men's Chriitian Association's Boons at Dunedin, which bore the above title, and Borne of his remarks, taken from one of the local papers, will bear reprinting : — " In introducing his subject, Dr Copland referred to the well-known story of the Russian nobleman, attacked by a pack of hungry wolves, and only escaping from their fury by sacrificing one horse, and then another to their fury, and finally his servant, until he reached a place of shelter. This he took as an emblem of the manifold evils preying on society around us. Although externally, it seemed as comfortable and well appointed as the nobleman's sleigh when he set out on the journey, tremendous evils were working havoc m the midst of it. He grouped them into five classes — ignorance, poverty, vice, disease, and crime. They were all connected with each other, and each not merely produced the results peculiar to its kind, but led to the other classes of evils specified. Speaking of ignorance, he said it lessened the enjoyment, intelligence, and usefulness of the individual, and often occasioned positive loss and danger to society — as when a thoughtless workman put m a wormeaten plank into a ship, and caused its foundering years afterwards, or a coal miner disregarding the protection of the Davy lamp used a naked light, and caused a destructive explosion. The indirect evils to which ignorance, if widely prevalent led, were still more mischievous. It increased the class of unskilled laborers, who would overstock the labor market when the present exceptional circumstances of this country were altered by the cessation of land sales and borrowing, and the lessened demand for public works. The ignorant classes naturally sought enjoyment m the basest pleasures, as drinking, gambling and other vices, which lessened the small de gree of intelligence they possessed, and led to poverty, disease, and crime. They presented materials which _ demagogues and impostors of every kind used for their own selfish ends, and their unrestrained passions once roused might lead to direst extremities as happened during the Bed Republic of Paris. Among the prisoners of this Colony, about a tixth part could, neither

read nor write, and if we included those who could only read, the proportion was about a fourth. The lecturer strongly recommended compulsory education, and referred to the prevalent practice of taking children from school at too early an age, and sending them to earn money — and often unsettled habits — as errand boys, instead of apprenticing them to useful trades. Aftei all that legislation could do, the increased knowledge diffused among the com munitj was only increased power, and it would depend upon the controlling conscience of each individual whether it would be fox good or for evil. He next spoke oi pauperism, which he defined to be the condition m which persons looked to Bociety for support without rendering any equivalent. The extent of this evil among us was shown by the numerous calls which were made for aid to unfortunate individuals, and to benevolent societies. If it increased according to the growth of the population, legislative measures of an active kind would be needed. In old countries the only choice lay between the Poor-law system and general mendicancy, of which the former, even under its worst forms, was the prefer able. But m our circumstances he considered the best means was the legislative regulation and support of the present system o* benevolent societies. A general supervision might be exercised over them without objectionable interference with their working, and Government support accorded to them as might be found necessary, bearing a fixed proportion of one, two, or three pounds for every poukd contributed by the inhabitants. The principal objection to this was that it afforded escape from the burden to those who were of a niggardly disposition. This would, however, be to a great extent obviated if taxation were levied m a direct form — as by a property and income tax. The expense of paid inspectors and other officials would be saved, and the work would be better done by gentlemen of character and standing m each community as at present. He considered that a workhouse would be needed m connection with the Benevolent Society, to provide work of varied descriptions (but of such a kind as would be marketable) m which those out of employment might be engaged at a rate of remuneration, of course, much below what prevailed outBide. This would not interfere with the ordinary course of trade, and would prove a great boon to the poor who might be thrown out of employment. All legitimate measures, however, could only palliate the evil ; its causes must be dealt with. He then referred to some of these, as the increase of unskilled laborers, the want of economy among many of the la> boring classes, the unlimited credit system, marriage entered into at too early an age or m a thoughtless way — with unsuitable partners. As indicating the extent of disease, vice, and crime m New Zealand, he quoted from the statistics of 1871 the cost of police, prisons, and reformatory, amounting to £82,828 ; of hospitals, lunatic asylums, and charitable relief, £59,226 ; and of judicial expenses, £48,446 ;in all, £190,500— 0r equal to 11s 3d for every man, woman, and child. According to Judge Richmond, threefourths of the Court business on the criminal side, and a great many cases on the civil side, were due to drink. Statistics could, however, but feebly 'show the actual results of these evils. The help of legislation should be welcomed m every way that was practicable, but no law could be effective without the moral support of the community. As an instance, he referred to the law requiring publichouses to be closed on Sabbath days, which, according to a deputation of publicans who recently interviewed one of the members of Government, was broken by all of them. With singular inconsistency, they blame the authorities for not stringently enforcing the law against sly-grog sellers. Evidently their idea of the purpose of the law was that it should be framed and enforced m their interest. The main reliance must be placed on the moral training of the individual, m order to counteract and abolish these social evils. He then pointed out some of the sources which ed to these evils. The adulterations and false representations practised m business, the late hours and irregularity caused by business or pleasure, especially among the young, and the frequenting of hotels, were referred to. Mischief was wrought m public-houses by the drink that was consumed, and by the conduct and conversation of those who frequented them. Betting, gambling, and other vices often followed. He spoke of two classes of hotels which were specially hurtful. Some there were of respectable exterior, m quiet streets of the city, where a stranger applying for a drink at a later hour than the law allowed would be at once refused ; but where young men, known to the proprietors; might be found m back rooms, gambling, and drinking during a great part of the night. Others, m suburban localities, seemed to be selected by free drinkers, as less exposed to the surveillance of the police. The private entrances which nearly all provided were specially objectionable, as inducing some to enter who would be ashamed to be seen going mby the public door. The money lending, offices which had increased largely of late years m this city, he regarded as . snares that proved most destructive to young men. Money was advanced on personal security, to be repaid m weekly instalments. When the borrower fell behind, he would be threatened with exposure to his employer, and perhaps, to prevent exposure, ie would bring some valuable— taken . from his master's store —to deposit as security with the lender. In this way the beginning was made which might lead to a confirmed life of vice and crime. These and other insidious tributaries to vice and crime the law could not easily prevent. Many subordinate measures should be employed to counteract the attjractions of vice, as reading-rooms, concerts, social entertainments, without the introduction of strong drink;, but the essential salt of society which alone preserved it from corruption, is true religion m the heart.