State Control.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 94, 7 August 1908, Page 5

State Control.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln replying to " Outback's " criticisms on the abovementioned subject, in its relationship to the question of Local Option for the King Country, and without in anyway presuming as to the result, if a ballot was 'taken in this district, the question of State control appeals to me..(should license be carried) as the only means : of controlling and regulating the liquor, traffic. The present conditions 'governing licensed houses haveproved •absolutely inadequate to meet the position. Under the present system ofLdcal option, many are reluctantly forced to take sides against the measure, in favour of the broader, and, to my mind, more acceptable principle, that of Universal Option. Moreover, the present system sacrifices the many for the few, withcut doing away with the dangers and temptations, and until-this .broader princigle is attained a great number of Universal Option must array then> selves in opposition to the present measure, owing.to.it failing tOciecoiJnplish the benefits claimed for it by its partisans. The inference " Outback " makes that the temptation would be too-,much for the Maoris, Shows litttle confidence in thelr'ability to discriminate between right and wrong, and to my way of viewing the I position is that the whole race must not be iudged by the few, as if such an attitude could be commended, the comparison would, not flatter our own race. The Maori, in centres where licenses .exist has nothing to be ashamed of in . comparison with his brothers in "prohibition areias," which is proof, enough "that "i Outback's" contentions in,this .direction are unfounded. —1 am, 6tC " 1 "J.H.T." p V Te Kuiti.