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Star (Christchurch), Issue 5563, 10 March 1886, Page 2

A MOST UNHAPPY BTA.TB op TJUSgB wa6 disclosed at yesterday's meeting of the Sydenham Licensing Committee. We have it on the evidence of members of the Committee that there is not only Sunday drinking, but Sunday drunkenness, and a good deal of it, too. Farther than this, the local Working Men's Club was oharged -with 1 being responsible for a large measure of the disgusting effects observable in the streets. Now, such an institution may be the meanß of doing a large amount of good, or it may be an unmitigated curse. Early in the history of the Chriatohurch Working Men's Club this was recognised $ and the good sense and quiet determination of the Managing Committee were made abundantly evident by th« favourable nature of the last annual report. But the Sydenham Club is on the wrong tack. It is— assuming the truth of the allegations— earning for itself the curse of wronged women and children,, and th» loathing of all decent pflople. If men are permitted to get drank within its walls oil Sunday, or on any other day, the sooner it is Bhut up the better. We shall hope to see prompt action t*ken. Surely there are members of the Club sufficient in number, and possessed with the needed amount of self-respect, to reform the institution or destroy it in the attempt. In either case they will have done their duty. Since the foregoing was written, th« Secretary of the Club has sent in an emphatic contradiction. The Managing Committee will, none the less, do well to take the drink supply question into serious, consideration, and devise measures which will practically ensure the maintenance of Bobriety at all times.