THE GOOD TEMPLAR MOVEMENT.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1882, 14 January 1875, Page 2

THE GOOD TEMPLAR MOVEMENT.

PUBLIC MEETING.

The Hon. S> I). Hastings addressed a public meeting in St. George's Hall last evening, upon the subject of the Liquor Traffic. The hall was crowded; every available seat being occupied, and many had to stand. A number of Thames notables conspicuous in the assemblage. Perhaps more than anything else such crowded meetings are illustrative, of the great amount of attention *w,hich this ; movement is receiving at the present time I amongst most people, chiefly, perhaps, in consequence of its being-so persistently placed before the public mind by the indefatigable advocates of the teetotal principle. A great proportion of th% audience ! were ladies, and a most attentive hearingfwas ac.corded the speaker throughout a long, eloquent, and earaesfc ( address. Mr Kenshaw occnpiedUW Chair. . ?

In introducing Mr Hastings, the ChairL : man said he feltmnch Honored, by occupying the Chair on such au occasion. He alluded to the reputation of tlie gentleman who was to address the meeting as a sufficient introduction ; and as regarded himself and others in their relations to the movement, he said, though they were not themselves Good Templars, they were yet open to conviction: and if the speaker could prove that it was their duty to join in the cause, he felt no doubt whatever but that a good many would become Good Templars. | Mr Hastings then came forward* He was very much pleased and gratified by the remarks which had come from the chairman respecting himself and the cause of Good Templarism : they so completely harmonised with his own feelings as he rose to address them. Ho did not address meetings of this character for the purpose of amusing; in the various parts of the world in which he had been, he never addressed an audience on temperance in the light of affording amusement?. It afforded him the highest satisfaction j to hear the Chairman say they were open to be convinced ; as with such feelings he felt sure they would give him a con? siderate hearing. He then went on to gay that he proposed to discuss the present demand of the temperance movement to abolish the liquor traffic. The immense interests involved, he said, were scarcely seriously thought about by the opponents of the movement. He then expatiated on the detrimental influence of the liquor traffice in retarding the prosperity and progress of _ all countries;* its influence upon legislation : upon the health, morals, and lives of the people; upon the character of their institutions and the permanency of their Government. Many would think that a subject of such acknowledged importance should be well understood by all men ; ; but it was net so. This wide-spread and [ gigantic influence of the liquor traffic^ was: not properly understood. One drunken man would be unimportant; but when the traffic assumed the form of a regular and extensive business, sanctioned by law, it became a material consideration. Its total abolition would work a beneficial effect the extent of which could scarcely be conceived: would cleanse man into something of his pristine purity. It was a subject in which every man, woman, and child had a deep interest. There was 1.0 one, however humble, however rich, wise or good, ignorant and depraved, who was not in some way suffering from the evils of this traffic. And the only way to overcome it was to abolish the importation, manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks. He advocated no half measures in endeavoring to effect this end ; in his principles he was a radisal. Nothing but its total .destruction would meet the demands of the hour. Never wds a more important proposition put for the consideration of the people of Is rew Zealand. The question was, "Is it good or bad?" By permitting Its existence (and the evils concomitant thereon) they—the people—were depriving their posterity of the birthright of liberty, which was their own. He then referred to the powerful opposition which the promoters had to contend against in the persons of capitalists who derived pecuniary benefit from the traffic, and who would use their influence and money in maintaining it. As illustrating .the advantages which total abstinence conferred upon its adherents, the speaker referred to the astonishing prosperity of a township built ud by Mr Charles T. Landers (of New York), in which, the sale or use of liquor was net permitted. Not a teetotaler himself, Mr Landers had conceived !;he idea of giving total abstinence a trials and the result was the growth of a township numbering 10,000 people—a model of happy prosperity and freedom from crime. In the town there were 25 school houses and 10 Churches.' Crime was unheard of; and the necessity for police did not exist. He also cited a number of other cases of communities of total abstainers, namely in Belfast, Wales, and elsewhere ; and reviewed the possible cdnsequences had the liquor traffic been allowed from the first. He looked upon the terrible evils of intemperance as totally beyond the power of language to convey an idea. The only means by which the advocates of total abstinence could hope to attain their object was by legislation, but the voice of the public must first be enlisted. The people must be convinced that there.was need of such legislation; the fallacious argument that the traffic was good must be crushed. They would have to bind themselves to vete only for men,who would assist on the cause in the government of the country. He would wish to be understood as not making warfare with the traders in drink, but the traffic itself. The. liquor interest claimed that their rights were being interfered with.

This was not so. They had no rights. Where did they get their rights ? Not from their Creator, and not from the common law of the land. The common law gave no right to pursue ajbusiness which was injurious to their nefghbours, and it was laid down that, though the wrong was inflicted with the consent of the aggrieved party, it was no mitigation of ■ tho offence. Another thing they appealed to was their ficense, in which he acknowledged they had the benefit of argument; but inasmuch as the licenses were given by the sanction of the people, it was a privilege conferred by the people which they were justified/ in taking away again; and in taking it away they were not depriving the seller of a right—they were simply taking away a special privilege granted by them, in order to bring him (the seller) down to the level of his fellow men. He claimed that all license laws. should be repealed. -Though the granting of licenses was originally intended to reduce the evil, it had only offered a ckeck at first, but the. evil, had grown rapidly, and the aim -had-not been effected. The prohibitory clauses, in the Licensing Act was another objection.* They compelled the places at which liquor, was sold, to be respectable ; and thereby had the effect, of inducing persons togo there who would otherwise not^enter the walls of such establishments. As to the women's crusade in Am?ricaof which so much had been heard, he might pay that it would not succeed, because the grog shops were not destroyed, until which was accomplished little could be effected. With the allurements still surrounding them many of those who had been reformed returned to their old ways. Thus it was apparent that they must strike at the root of the evil, and remove the main cause of all. The most important work now demanding the attention of the people of New Zealand was the annihilation of everything connected with drunkenness. The law did not give licenses for other offences. If a thing was known to be wrong, the law would not permit it to exist; if it was right the law was silent. It was much easier to get people to support total prohibition than any half-way measures. They m ght of course accept partial measures—they could hot help it; but let their demands unceasingly be —entire prohibition. If the thousands of pounds spent in drink were added to the wealth of the people how much happier would they be, and relieved from the heavy taxation which they were now suffering from on account of the liquor traffic. Some would say, this was too much to expect. He knew the obstacles that barred the way., There was the in* fluence of many who were growing rich from the profits of the business, the licensees who depended upon the traffic for their support, the appetites of thousands, and the influence of political parties who depended upon liquor to ensure their success. To overcome these obstacles was the work which had to be performed, and he asked all (if they considered his arguments sound) to join in the task. If they drank moderately, discontinue to do so. They should also not be content with acting passively, they should aid the cause aggressively, and endeavor to influence those around them. To bring this about they must elect men who would devote themselves to securing the desired result. Until this-ground was taken, prohibition wculd net be accomplished. Vote, for the utter destruction of the liquor laws. The interest did not mind so long as the protection was not made law* because the few converts to total abstinence would always be compensated for by the captures which would be made of "the rising generations by the allurements held out. The speaker said he had been in this island a few days, and was delighted with what he had seen in our country, of the beauty of the land, and the progress made. The resources of the country had also pleased and astonished him. There was no reason why we should not be one of the most happy people in the world. The great barrier to this was the liquor traH-'c. If that were driven away the prospect would be such as could not be painted by the organ of language. Urging upon liis hearers to join in the work of reformation, and asking for an earnest consideration of the arguments he had used, ■• Mr Hastings resumed his seat amid great cheering.

Mr moved a vote of thanks to the lecturer for the able address just delivered, and paid a graceful compliment to that gentleman's abilities. He said there was no occasion for Mr Hastings to have asked for a consideration of liis ideas. Any man who spoke from his heart was always sure of such consideration. He alluded to i;he necessity for the abolition of public-houses. Many blamed the poor drunka'd, and called him weak. This might be in a measure true ; but were the temptations not held out (which were very hard to resist) men would not fall. Ho-had no very confient expectation of entire prohibition being effected in this Colony tor many years; but of this they could assure their fellow men—that they believed in their principles and were in earnest with their work ; and success would crown their efforts — though that success should only be witi nessed by those who would carry on the work after they had passed away.

Mr Bagnall seconded the latter gentleman's proposition. He agreed with the Chairman that they were all open to conviction ; and he had been long convinced that if the £140,000 which had been expended on drink had been devoted to the development of the resources of this district, the community would be much the better for it.

The Chairman made some remarks upon the visit of Mr Hastings, and was glad that he had received so large an audience, as it would be encouragement for other able men to visit them. He believed that listening to able men was

more instructive than reading, and considered the Templars had adopted the proper course in this respect. After some further remarks, he put the motion, which was carried with acclamation.

Mr Hastings thanked them. He considered that they rather deserved his thanks. He thanked them for their presence there, and the attention they had given him. He had never (in all his travels) addressed an audience with more satisfaction. He felt they had granted him the consideration of his arguments which he asked for. He felt himself in perfect sympathy with them, and thanked them again. Mr Speight stated that it was intended to entertain Mr Hastings at a cold luncheon to-morrow (this day). Feeling that they could not permit that gentleman to depart without some mark ofjthe honor he had done them, and his. time beinglimited, it had been decided- to entertain him in this way. The meeting then dispersed.