Church and Liquor.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 258, 8 November 1901, Page 2

Church and Liquor.

(To the Editor of the Timhs.) Sin, —It is unfortunate for Mr Lysnai'i but beneficial to the general public, that he tires before ho convinces them. I notice that he assumes, before election, tho title of “ Tho Eight Honorable the Minister for Bacchus”! One would think, however, that a Minister for Christ has quite as much right to air his views on this question as has a Minister for Bacchus. The latter is at liberty to address liis fellow electors as his duty towards his fellows prompts him, but a Minister of religion is under a duty superior to that, and I, for one, think that that duty justifies an attempt to redress an undoubted evil. If the Minister for Bacchus deserve I to be horsewhipped if he quietly sat down and did nothing under certain circumstauecs, surely a Minister for Christ would desorve to bo burnt at tho stake if he quietly sat down and did nothing towards reducing tho sins traceable to drink. The general public have to beware of the immoderates oil both sides. It is immoderate to support the present system of monopoly, a State should not grant a monopoly against itself. It is immoderate to support total prohibition, because the great mass of people arc moderate drinkers. t\ hen extremes meet they will wrangle unceasingly. It is high time for the moderate drinkers to step forward and formulate a moderate plan for dealing with tho question. If they adopt the principle that a State should not create a monopoly except for its own benefit it logically leads them to cither State or Municipal control. For many reasons I would prefer Municipal control, and though the Minister for Bacchus prognosticates horrible evils to result from the adoption of such a system, I do think that proper regulations could be framed to meet most contingencies. Though it may be impossible to devise a perfect system I think that Municipal control would be found better than either private monopoly or total prohibition. It might bo well to try it as an experiment in such an isolated district as this before attempting general adoption. 1 should welcome support of such a scheme from any Minister of lteligion ; ovory Church has its duty in the social life, notwithstanding the dogmatism of tho Minister for Bacchus, and that duty exists, however much we may differ about the methods of carrying out that duty.—l am, etc., Mouiituxiox.

the Editor of the Times.) Sih, —I see that Mr W. D. Lysnar has again come out hot and strong through the columns of the Times. He shows that very disposition which I object to in the rabid prohibitionist. He will not coniine himself to temperate argument, but lashes away with the fury of a man benighted and trying to get his team to move out of a bog. If a body of young men with the energy and ability of Mr Lysnar would only take the liquor question in hand, in a rational way, I believo that a remedy for the evils complained of would soon be found,—l am, etc.,

Temperate,