THE LICENSING BILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19171, 30 November 1927, Page 11

THE LICENSING BILL.

TO THE EDITOR Of THE PBE3B. Sir, —Your leading article of the 23rd inst, has just come under my notice. Please allow me space to point out that in uiy address to the Presbyterian Assembly, I mean precisely what L said. Your garbled version and uufair deductions arc evidently intended to influence public opinion against the (as you are pleased to term us) "intolerant body of people" and "Prohibitionlst Zealots." .Most respectable journals have ceased calling names. That form of argument was common forty years ago, but cuts no ice to-day, and does not throw light on the subject. I said the Bill brought clown by the Prime Minister was ''loaded heavier than ever." In the past the "trade" always had the advantage and this Bill would impose a 55-45 loading, giving 100 continuance voters the value of 122.2 temperance voters. The House defeated this iniquitous and undemocratic proposal by 43 to 32. Y'ou do not treat me honestly when you write 'one would be excused for assuming that Mr Todd thinks it is unfair that a minority composed of Prohibitionist voters cannot coerce the majority." I, and the New Zealand Alliance, stand for one man one vote all of equal value. We could not accept victory on a minority vote or by legislation. Let the people decide. I said the votes of the members of the General Assembly were equal to the votes of the loafers around the bar. In advocating a loaded majority you hold the loafers' rotes are of greater value. When I said "loafer" I meant "loafer," that is the unfortunate victims of the "trade," and I did not refer to the many decent' citizens who take a drink in an hotel. Your argument on the anti-Prohibi-tionist not placing "any restriction upon the liberty of the individual" is l worn threadbare and the more intelligent defenders of the traffic use other assertions. All laws, human and Divine, restrict individual liberty iii the community interest. It is a reform well worth a trial to free our country from the curse of the licensed beverage trade in alcoholic poison. Business will then be free of the baa debts that are caused by liquor. Our roads will be free from risk of loss of life and property through drunken drivers. We will be free from having to divert time and money to relieving unemployment caused by drink. We j will be free from anxiety because of the troubles which follow when a i moderate drinker gradually becomes immoderate. Best of all, when Dad returns from work on Friday with his wases in full. When next you write on "liberty and freedom" tell us what you think of a "trade" that dooms men and women to gaols and asylums, and little chil- ! dren to orphanages.—Yours, etc., CHARLES TODD, President, New Zealand Alliance. Wellington, November 28th. [We deal with Mr Todd's letter in our leader columns, but it is more convenient to notice in a footnote his reference to our "garbled version" of his address. Our report of his address was sound and accurate, and that this is so is' established both by Mr Todd's statement that he meant precisely what he said, and his failure to point out any particular in which our report was garbled or incorrect. —Ed. The Press.]