FIGHTING THE ENEMY IN VICTORIA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 736, 14 April 1904, Page 26

FIGHTING THE ENEMY IN VICTORIA.

(“A.B. Journal.”) A largely-attended meeting under the auspices of the Liquor Trades' Defence Union of Victoria was held in the Athenaeum Hall, Collins Street, Melbourne, On the evening of March 7. Among the audience were number of ladies. Ihe chairman of the union (Mr A. McCracken) presided. The Chairman said that the meeting had been called so that the views of the liquor party should be considered at the same time as the views of the prohibition party. It was necessary to get those who used alcoholic liquor in moderation to protect their interests. The prohibition party had secently interviewed the Premier, and it transpired there that what was wanted was an alteration of the law as fought for by the temperance party in New Zealand. What their fellowcitizens in the temperance cause wanted was to* entirely prevent the use of alcohol except for medicinal purposes. One of the means to be adopted before this was brought about was to prevent the employment of barmaids. That did not concern him directly as a manufacturer Of licuor, but he knew that a number of women engaged in the liquor trade were as well and as honestly employed as women in other walks of life. Their occupations were as healthy, and their lives were as happy, as those of girls engaged in any other business. The temperance people were also determined to put down Sunday trading. On that subject it would be found that, no matter what the views of those engaged in the Trade were with regard to the right of people to have a drink on Sunday, as well as any other day, they would, while the law existed as itwas at present, co-operate in any movement to have it carried out in its entirety. Another aim of the party was to close all hotels on election days. He could not understand that movement. One would imagine that the electors of the country had nothing to do on election day but attend the polling booth and then get drunk. Such a suggestion was a reflection on the voters as a whole.

The Hon. Nicholas Fitzgerald, M.L.C., said that it was difficult on a subject so old to say anything new. An American statistician once calculated that if the breath that was expended on the subject -of liquor traffic could Jbe applied to a

windmill it would give power enough to work all the wine presses of Europe. (Laughter.) It was an important subject, however, when, because of the sins of a few, an effort was made to inflict an injustice on the many. It was of importance to the political and social order, and justified the action which the league was now taking. He did not like the word liquor. He would prefer to see the association called a league to defend the ever met the last people whom he snould ever met the last peapie whom he should entrust with practical work were men who were now leaders of the prohibition party. If the public recognised that there was any risk of an indignity being put on the" people as that they could not lake drink without being brought to the level of a drunkard, the hall would not be large enough to hold those who would attend to protest against it. He recognised and deplored the evil of drunkenness. but why should all they who were engaged in the Trade be referred to as if those ruined homes and starving children were directly attributable to them ? Among the hotel-keepers were found men as law-abiding as those of any trade. (Applause.) He was not afraid of the result of the deputation to the Premier. A more level-headed, humane, and broadly intelligent man than the present Premier he did not know, and he believed that Mr Bent would ask some practical questions before he would agree with the speakers at that deputation. Nothing more contrary to fact could be asserted than that which was said to Mr Bent by the deputation. The speakers saiid the barmaids were, by their very attractiveness, a means of leading men to over-in-dulgence in liquor. A more cruel charge could not have been made. As a fact, these ladies were a means of preventing men taking too much drink, and. were a check upon the use of profane language, in which men would perhaps indulge if they were not restrained by the presence of women. He could credit these speakers with all the virtues except knowledge. If they looked to the days of old they would find that a law which did not supported by public opinion could not last. If these enthusiastic people tried to create a new heaven on earth, as bright as the heaven in which they all believed, they.would, be mistaken. Some years ago he visited the prohibition State of Maine, and he never got as much liquor as he did in Maine. (Laughter.) He got it in

five boot stores, and some ordinary stores, the only difference between that and New York being that the price was doubled to cover the risk. (Laughter.) In addition, the temperance drinks were highly charged with alcoholic strength of the worst kind, which would, if taken in excess, result not merely in intoxication, but madness. If any proof were given of the success of the movement in New Zealand, he could understand the attempt to introduce the system here ; but it was passed in New Zealand simply in a moment of infatuation by an organised minority. They were able to influence candidates by their organisation. Why should not men and women on the other side organise. ? If there were black sheep among the liquor traders, let the temperance friends come and help the association to weed them out. (Applause.) Why shouL* the law allow a rich man to obtain liquor at the club, and prevent the working man from indulging in intoxicants in moderation ? Mr Bent was likely to tell the deputation that the financial condition of the country would not allow him to do as they wished!. That was the first good reason out of 99 that might be given. The taxpayers did not want their burdens increased, and, whether this question was looked at from the business side or the philanthropic side, Mr Bent would have the best of it. But politics was an uncertain game, and if those who were interested did not look to their interests, they might find themselves in the cold, and Parliament might legislate in such a way as would result in the destruction of the liquor industry. Those gentlemen who deplored the sins of others very often fell into sin themselves. How was it that those who were so zealous for the welfare of others should inflict such hardships on the people of the country ? Here in Melbourne there were public libraries and galleries, and the same men who were clamouring for prohibition prevented the working man from visiting the public libraries and museums on Sunday. (Applause.) Men could go away and get drunk, but they could not visit these institutions, which were provided by their money. If he could utter any word of advice to men placed on such a high pedestal, he would till them not to be led away by zeal for legislation, but to turn their attention to the social welfare of the people. That was recognised as the solution of the intemperance problem in Great Britain.

With such success had it carried on in recent years that the drink bill of England had been reduced by £2,000,000 in 1902, as compared with 1901. He urged the people of this State to join this association, and protect their own interests. (Applause.) Mr James Moloney supported the previous speakers. Mr R. H. Lemon, secretary of the association, admitted that there were many earnest men among the prohibition party, but there were others who conducted their campaign in a manner which wae by no means creditable. The prohibition movement in New Zealand had not been a success. In Balclutha drink could be not by anyone who wanted it. A gentleman engaged in the insurance business had told him that a prohibition town was regarded as a bad risk from a fire insurance standpoint. Some little time ago the Premier of New Zealand brought in a Bill to really apply prohibition practices to prohibited areas. Mr Seddon desired that it should be illegal to keep liquor on private premises in these districts, because he rightly contended that every man who had. liquor in his hcusa under such circumstances was a potential sly-grog seller. But the temperance party, instead of supporting the Bill, cupoeed it. Um president of the Victorian Alliance (Mr Hunt)described it as an insidinus ami crafty attempt to kill the nQliceuse movement. Prohibition had been equally unsuccessful in the United States. The arrests for drunkenness in England were six per thousand in 1898. In the prohibition State of Maine the arrests in the principal towns were as follows :— Portland, 42 per 1000 ; Lewiston, 29 ; Bangor, 43 ; Biddeford, 18 ; Augusta, 29 ; Bath, 81 ; Rockland, 35 ; Gardner, 69. It was a libel on Australians to say that they we c a drunken people. No matter what position he was in he would always resent the attitude of those who for purposes of their own endeavoured to throw discredit on the people of the country in this respect. The electors were likely to be split up into sections at the next general election, but the Liquor Trade Defence Association in the fight which it would conduct claimed that it stood up for equal rights for all. (Applause.)

Mr M. Honan (Ballarat) proposed, and Mr A Y Oastler seconded, a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried with applause.

Owing to the prevalence of ether and methylated spirit drinking in Derry, loyally known as “dynamite drinking,” the bench has expressed the hope that the Legislature will prevent the general sale of these liquids. Two recent cases are de■erihed in the “Irish Daily Independent” •f two men found in a state of utter •oilapse, one through ether and the other through methylated spirits. Each man was fined 22s 6d and costs.