Is the Remedy Infinitely Worse than the Disease!

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 44, 20 August 1896, Page 2

Is the Remedy Infinitely Worse than the Disease!

TO THE EDITOB OP THE STAB. Sir, — I raid Mr Boots indulged in personalities, and bis letter in reply proves this, for it contains little else but personalities. He is evidently unable to discern the difference b*> tween discussing a principle and in* dulging in personalities. Perhaps this is more a failing than a fault. If his letter last night is a sample of what we may expect from the Christian Drink Champions, it is quite clear they have a bad case— hence abuse their opponents. I request Mr Roots to explain what he means by his insinuation that there was a want of veracity, candour and generosity in connection with the so called State Bun Easter Prohibition episode ; which year's demonstration ; and what is the episode? The men and women who for years have conducted the demon* Btrations have a right to demand an explanation. I trust Mr Roots will have the courtesy to give' it. ■ Mr Roots, in his previous letter, made seven assertions, which I asked him to prove, but not one word of proof has he attempted to give. I deny all the assertions. The first I reply to is That the remedy (Prohibition) is infinitely worse than the disease >- Such is the startling proposition which Mr Roots lays down. Let us consider the economical aspect of this diaesse ■■ and I am glad he owns it is a disease, for it is a cancer which is undermining ; the financial constitution of the oolout. In 1894 we spent in New Zealand move than ±2,000,000, an amount which in 21 years would pay off our national debt — now standing at £42,000,000. Tbere are 102 breweries in the ookmy, employing 500 men. Possibly there are 8,000 persons employed in the drink traffic in this colony, and the cry is raised, Where will all these people find employment if you close the hotels as drinking houses ? Now the sum spent in drink was huge enough to pay 20,000 workmen 7s per day for every working day through the year, or, where one person is employed in the drink trade to-day seven would be employed if the money was spent in ordinary industries which add to the wealth of the colony. Nothing will help solve the unemployed question so effectively as the closing of the hotels. The Prohibition question is an economic and working man's question. It does not pay the State to keep- the hotels open. But, ones someone, think of the revenue derived from the drink. Yes, think of it. How much is the net gain to the colony ? We received . last year £496,000 as revenue from the trade in intoxicating drink. Th« coat of collecting this revenue was £87,000. Then there is the cost of supporting our police force. Half our notice force would not be required ; i.c, in 1896 6048 persons were convicted for drunken* ness, or rather more than 7 for every 1000 of our population. Whilst for as* saults and larceny, including embezzlement, there were only 1648, or about 9 per 1000 of the population, and a number of these might be traced to strong drink. I question if one-third of our police would be required but for the orink. It is the drink which finds the police employment. Our police cost us £98,---000 per year, our courthouses and police stations £80,000. Then comes our charitable aid. Two of the Benevolent Trustees of Wellington attribute 90 cent of the pauperism of the city to strong drink, whilst the keeper of the Wellington Gaol ascribes 80 per cent of the crime of the city to strong drink. Then there are our asylums, scores of the inmates being sent there by drink; Children are sent to the Industrial Hoses through the drinking habits of their parents, yet supported by State taxation. What shall be said of the loss of time whilst the £2,000,000 were being spent, time lost, and work hindered, workmen drinking one day and unfit to do good work the next. In a score of different ways the drink is causing expense to the colony. When once the people of this colony can see what the drink traffic is costing them they will sweep it from tho land. ■ How much is a man worth? In the days of American slavery an able-bodied negro was worth £800. How much is an able-bodied, educated, and intelligent colonial worth financially? Sayi^for the sake of argument, £500, and, at the least, 500 persons are murdered by the drink every year. Then then v an annual loss to the State ot £250,000 in human flesh, brain, and muscle. This is leaving out of the question the moral loss to the colony, and character has an unknown value. The voice of economy, morality, and humanity, cry out loudly ; It does not pay to keep the public house open. But, someone cries, where k tho revenue to come from ? We reply that the drink traffic costs the station more thau what is got from it in revenue. But suppose that the amount had to be* raised, one penny per pound on sugar would raise mere than half theamoonk ■ required t Prohibition would reduce the farmers' rates and every farmer, if only for self protection, ought to be a Promv bitiooist. Nothing would befriend t th* ' storekeeper more than Prohibition, for it , would qieftij an .uicjpqase. of:tradftana%

neater possibility of his being paid for bis goods. The only teal remedy foi this financial loss to the colony is to carry Prohibition and sweep the drink away. In my next I intend to refer to the moral disease caused by drink. I am, etc., t J. GOCKEB.