COMPULSORY PROHIBITION FOR SHIPS'.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 82, 31 December 1907, Page 6

COMPULSORY PROHIBITION FOR SHIPS'.

Sir,—A : circular' has' been issued to

masters of their vessels by the"management oi tho Union Steamship'Coipp'anv',' drawing attention to the passage-of flic Liquor Bill through the Legislature, and :: mentioning tlie penalties attached thereto '• for noil-compli-ance thereof: '' Sucli'legislation "is, to', my mind, a gross, insult to'■'tlie'intelligence of tho mercantile marine officer,-"especially those who aro sailing out of"New Zealand' ports, tor go where, one will, in", ariv.' part' or tion of. tho world, it. would be'a very difficult matter, to find a more abstemious lot of'of- ™| ~l lu aro sa i»»g from these ports. ... The idea (of passing- such an Act). Lam given to understand 'originated with .the youngs omen's." .Christian'. Temperance Union, the members of which convention would to my mind,-bo-much-bettor employed were they occupied, in learning, to" perform domestic duties at homo, instead of interfering .with matters, which, they, do not", understand. ' , . . • '..•■•■■ ; :. , & f«.ont.wreck on the coast has been attributed to the assumption that one of tho oHicors.-was tho worse of liquor■when he should .have .been , keeping his watch.. As?um!nE. for argument's sake,- that the'officer m question was. in such. a state, docs that warrant the .Government, ■ passing an -Act which, in itself, is an insult'.to a large intelligent body of men, for it implies tljat no ships officer can be relied upon from making a. bog of. himself by indulging to'excess. ■ ...Icrsonally, I havo riot;the slightest synir pathy. with any,man who loses his .position through liquor, and, if a. ballot of marine officers were taken in .respect .of. ■ cancelling tho packet license, or otherwise, there, is no doubt but the:sale of liquor on board' vessels would be .discontinued. > i-THat, however, would have the effect-of soinewhat reducing tho■ dividends of the'capitalistic, ship-owner, hentso it cannot be. entertained.. . -. ■-■' ■ ( The. only rcason'thatl can- assign, for,- the Government so readily taking/this matter, up and pushing the. Bill rthrpugh. (evidciitlv without due .consideratiori),- is- that .they wish to-secure at-the,coming.general election,the vote-of-the "cold-tea..party l !-?.-,': If,-.,however, they,havo taken the-matter up with a view of- safeguarding the liv.os-.pf- the -.travelling public, they,, might utiliso .the..-.-time of ■'tho country more- .beheficially and "with more credit to •themsc-lvesvwere thoy-to take, up othor matters in. respect-to ships': officers.for a ..similar-purpose.-. , Had our ..-legislators -been- 'struck- on', the saino spot in. tho. "good old-.days/-'-it would undoubtedly havo done a deal if. good, but coming; as it.:does,- at this-late day, Mr. Editor, it simply, means -that., they .-have missed tho /bus, and in doing.so'.'have aimed an.insult, at those who-,feel it very keenly, and who, as a 'matter'-.of: principle,'.intend doing their utmost to have this nonsensical Act repealed.—l, am, etc.,'. v' ..•:..,-■ "ONE. OF : THE-CLOTH." ' Wellington, December,- 30,-1907. ■■