History – Fighting the demon drink

By Lyn Johnston, Albertland Museum

Temperance means avoiding alcoholic drink and temperance societies first appeared in the early 1800s. Social reformers saw alcohol as the cause of many of the troubles of the industrial era, including poverty, illness, family neglect and immorality.

In the late 1800s, non-conformist churches in New Zealand encouraged their congregations to abstain from drinking alcohol of any kind. Among these were the Albertland settlers, men and women with high moral standards like John Shepherd and the Rev. Samuel Edger, who were staunch supporters of the temperance movement. At a meeting of the Port Albert Literary Club in 1871, Mr R. Nicholson read a paper on ‘alcohol’.  He said it was a poison, whether in the form of a spirit or disguised in ales or wines.

The Band of Hope was a temperance organisation for working class children, founded in Leeds in 1847. All members, some as young as six, took a pledge of total abstinence and were taught the ‘evils of drink’.  They were encouraged to pass the no-alcohol message on to their parents.

The Port Albert Band of Hope was established in 1873 and contemporary reports said its influence prevented the establishment of an licenced public house within 20 miles of the settlement. One letter written from Wellsford c.1900 (Watson papers) states, ‘I see no drinking here or drunkenness either to speak of, having no hotels in the district’. Music played an important role in the Band of Hope and competitions were held between different choirs. Port Albert visited Wharehine and vice versa, with both combining to visit Wellsford.

Special books and pamphlets contained little plays and recitations reinforcing the temperance idea. The Australian Band of Hope Reciter in our archives contains 45 recitations, songs and choruses especially suitable for young people. Suggestions and hints at the beginning of the booklet advised, ‘Teach them not to drawl’ and ‘Impress upon young reciters the importance of speaking slowly, distinctly, and emphatically’.

Albertland Museum and Heritage Centre recently took part in the Auckland Heritage Festival with ‘Copybooks to Keyboards, 150 Years of Albertland Education’ an exhibition of all things educational.  This will continue for a limited period into the new school term.