VITAL ISSUES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 53, 14 February 1949, Page 4

VITAL ISSUES

Sir, —I undestand that towards the end of 1948 the New Zealand Alliance issued a call to the churches regarding the necessity of forming a United Campaign Committee in each centre to cope with the referendum on extended hours for the sale of liquor. In view of the'seriousness of the vital issue at stak# and the short time the Government has allowed in which to prepare, this call was urgent. Here in Whakatane we have some half dozen active churches, with a larger number of ministers. As a mother concerned over her family’s future, may I ask what is being done? The only effort of which I have any knowledge is that of “Awake” in your columns. Is his a lone voice in the wilderness; Or will our churches yet add their voices? We naturally look to 1 the churches for activity and guidance on such questions, and trust they will not disappoint us. Yours etc., ANXIOUS MOTHER. Sir: Your correspondent' . “Awake” seems alarmed at the prospect that hotel drinking hours might be extended. Why? I .do not propose to argue with liis statistics. Figures can be' made to appear to prove anything, and the relationship he suggests between hotel hours and drunkenness convictions he has merely assumed, not established as fact. So far as I am concerned, I don’t give a hoot in Hades if they close the hotels at 2 p.m. or keep them open until the milkman calls. If I want to get drunk, I shall see that I have an adequate supply of the doings to get myself just as plastered as I wish to get. That is my democratic privilege, and if I do not harm anyone else by exercising it, I am sure I shall not incur the displeasure of the Police. Moreover, unless my penchant for the odd pot of suds affects “Awake” or his near relatives seriously, I don’t really see why he should concern himself about a problem that is essentially mine and that of others like me. I thoroughly enjoy .my drunkenness, but make a point of not allowing it to harm anyone else.. My ; family are well provided for, and will be if I drink myself into an early grave. Should that occur, the fault and the penalty (if any) will be mine own, and I should hate “Awake” or any other wowser to weep for me. Ymirc; pfp JOHN BARLEYCORN.