Dear Sir

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 6, 17 March 1947, Page 4

Dear Sir

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used the name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to abridge, amend or withhold any letter or letters.

DRINK

Sir, —In your Wednesday’s Beacon John Bull gives pen to his objections to the letters of Integrity and others. While these objections are received in a good spirit one does wonder why he should state that criticism is hurled at every person who enjoys a ‘spot’ or two, and that I insinuate that every person who has a beer is “low-down scum.” This is taking to much from my letters, and cannot be substantiated by a fair reading of them, but readers can judge this for themselves. He badly misses the mark when he boldly states that a glass of two would allow me “to rub shoulders with honest-to-goodness men’s men whom he never knew existed.” ,It 1

will enlighten and no doubt surprise, John Bull to know that my. experience of what I believe he would count as “honest-to-goodness men’s men” includes not only rubbing shoulders, but living, feeding, sleeping and suffering with them on Gallipoli and through every battle fought by the N.Z. Division ...in France and Belgium in the Great War, to say nothing of intervening episodes connected with the backarea estaminets and their bock, vin and champagne, and men who could drink and stop, and men who could drink like fish (but failed to carry it as well!). This is not stated in a spirit of boasting but to show what wild statements John Bull is prepared to make. Those years of living in the closest and most intimate contact with one another left me a changed outlook on many things, and a realisation that the drink question did not end with the bottom of the glass. Returning to N.Z., I failed to find any convincing reason for the drink traffic, and as the years have gone by, with some contact still with John Bull’s “honest-to goodness men’s -men,” I have looked for this, but always in vain/ Instead I have found repeatedly, good, sound and convincing reasons against alcohol. Now, as John Bull has seen fit to champion alcohol, can he reveal this well-hidden secret, that is, the good, sound, convincing reason for its existence, and for its use? I have waited years to know this. I heartily agree with him in his condemnation of all forms of over-indulgence, even in things that in themselves are good, but when it comes to dealing with you who may over-indulge I do hope you will remember that it is not Integrity but John Bull, a defender of alcohol, who calls you fools. My experience with “honest-to-goodness men’s men” has left me more tolerant and more sympathetic to the weaknesses of my fellows, who like myself are by no means perfect. I wish John Bull could realise what it means to those, and their families, who, while once addicts, have completely overcome this hgbit. Yours etc.,

INTEGRITY.