DRINK AND GAMBLING
Wesley Church was thronged last evening when the Rev Henry Worrall
of Bendigo and Mr
Judkins delivered addresses on the gambling evil and Licensing
questions.
The Reverend AR Edgar presided.
...............................................Mr
Worrall..........................................
Mr Judkins, who followed was also greeted with tremendous applause. He
said that,
though it had been untruthfully stated by the enemy that he had
been in a private
lunatic asylum, it might have been that rumour had merely mistaken the
man. A certain
member of Parliament had been immured in an inebriate establishment
just recently - a
member who had been of wonderful help to the reformers. The speaker
denounced the part
played by the Rev ES Hughes in championing boxing.
Though that Reverend gentlemen had talked of “old women”, the speaker
would like
to know whether men like the Rev Mr Hughes and Mr Wren were the true
supporters of sport
(“No?”). Mr Hughes had said that he did not wish to add to the
commandments, and
that it took him all his time to keep them as they were. Naturally,
that statement
gave rise to a query as to which one commandment the Rev Mr Hughes had
difficulty in
keeping. ( Great Laughter) Possibly it was that he did not believe in
adding another which
would be “Thou shalt not box” (renewed laughter) Both Mr Hughes
and Mr
Wren were a source of danger to the community, and it did not matter
whether those words
came from the mouth of a minister of from a man who ran a tote shop
they deserved
castigation. (Great Applause) Every decent man in the community
would support Mr
Bent when he bought in a bill to stop professional boxing (Applause).
Turning to the licensing question, Mr Judkins said that the audience
should see to it that
they turn out of the house all men who voted for compensation and
refused to grant local
option. Such men as the Gillotts (hoots), Prendergasts and Gausons
(hoots), Yes Billsons,
McKinnons and Peacocks too. He would not be at all surprised to see
Parliament dissolve
over this licensing question. Were all the people ready for a
dissolution?
A chorus of Voices - Yes
Mr Judkins - Have you chosen your men?
No Answer
Mr Judkins - Where are the yeses now?
A Stentorian Voice - Mr Judkins for Collingwood
The Rev Mr Woodful - I second that resolution (Cheers),
we’ll carry it
through, too! (Renewed Cheers)
Mr Judkins - Never in my life did I dream of being on so
high a pedestal as
the representative of the district that contains Wren’s Tote (Laughter)
Mr Woodful - It wouldn’t be there long (Laughter)
From: THE ARGUS September 1906