UNION TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2407, 9 June 1882, Page 3

UNION TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

The first general meeting of thii Society was held m the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute last evening. Th« President (Mr Granger) delivered the opening address. Using the locomotive engine and its engineer as illustrations of his subject. he referred to the wonderful construction of the locomotive, and to the importance of a proper engineer to mtnage it. To procure a proper engineer it was necessary tb.il hs (the engineer) should be carefully educated and trained for his work, and having thus been educated he only began to enter upon the really important and difficult part of his work when assuming the position of engineer m charge of the locomotive. He had to learn the indifidaality of his engine, and the peculiarities of the lines he had ts travel. Erery individual had a machine of this eort to deat with, namely, his body, and it was very important that each one thould know himself properly, understand his own constitution, tbs sphere he was best fitted for and the path he should follow, and properly nourish and attend to the body', so that the various parts may perform their respective functions aright. People may be intemperate m more than partaking o£ intoxicating liquors, and they would do well to "guard against exetsses of every kind. He (the spfaker) was glad this Bociety h^d been started, because if men kept from intoxicating liquors they are safest. " Doctors differ," and if they abstain from these liquors until doctors agree upon the subject there will be little fear of them. Each one should find out his proper position, study his constitution, and endeavor to " glorify God m his body." The Vice-President (Mr Napier) referred to the work going on m Scotland and England, specially instancing tbe successful labors of Mr Murphy, a teetotal lecturer, who m Dundee had 32,000 recruits to the total abstinence cause m about three weeks' time, while m one of tbe towns m England 6000 hod signed the pledge m one week. Several matters of importance lo the Society were next discussed, among which was the Licensing Act, and the clauses referring to the opening of public-houses till twelve o'clock. Reference was made to the recent meeting' of the Licensing Committee of Timaru and its action m extending the hour of closing till twelve o'clock, midnight. Mr Bruce considered it was one of the greatest eriis that had ever taken place m Timaru, and thought ths Committee surely did not realise the importance of their position, nor the amount of mischief such extension would lead to. Several members expressed similar opinions, and the Rer. Mr Gillie* pointed out the working of the Act, and said that "no power on earth" could alter the. present arrangement for another year. In about nine months from this time the people would Tsare the opportunity . of expressing their view* by electing gentlemen- on the Committee who would carry out their withei. As it was understood that a Bill was being drafted fer the purpose of amending the clauses referred to, it was agreed, upon the motion of the Rev. Mr Hallowes, seconded by Mr Hislop — " That the President be requested to communicate with the Members for Timara and Gladstone respecting the Licensing Act which at present gives Committees power to grant licenses to 12 o'clock midnight, and urge upon those Members tbe importjiea of hating those clauses repealed m faToEof-a "10 o'clock fionr_o£ cloiiag.putjlichouses." , ; .Attention was also drawn to the number of drunken people seen about the streets on Sabbath days, and to the fact that they must be supplied with liquor on that day at Ihe hotels ; and it was thought by some that efforts should bo made to hare this evil removed. : > The Bar. Mr Gillies stated that hitherto a great difficulty lay m tbe way of convictions bring obtained, by the Act' requiring that proof must be given of money having been passed, whereas, the new .Act required the publican to prove that money bad not been passed for the drink supplied. The Society's meetings are bold m the hall of ths Mechanics' Institute oa the second Thursday of each month, from 7-30 to 9 o'clock p.m., and tbe principal business for next evening will be a discussion, to be introduced by the Rev. Mr Gillies, on the Licensing Act.