INTEMPERANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3763, 20 April 1907, Page 3

INTEMPERANCE.

To the Editor. Sir, —I read with great interest the article on Intemperance, and wondered what the writer was driving at. His solution of the problem how to deal with the growing evil of dr ink, seems a poor one, to say the least about it, although I believe the writer is sincere in his desire to stop the prevailing intemperance. He declares that Prohibition is an interference with a man’s rights and freedom, and for that reason will never be gained by Act of Parliament. The writer need only think for a few moments, and he will find that his rights and freedom are very much curtailed in every direction. He cannot do as he pleases in many things. He is not allowed to knock down the first man he meets; that is an interference with his liberty. If he is an employer of labour, he will soon find out that he cannot work his employees as he chooses. The law will have something to say about the conditions under which he employs labour, the number of hours he works them, the rate of pay, etc. For the well being of the people these restrictions interferences with a man’s liberty—are enforced. He is not allowed to choose for himself in many things. Surely the law has only to say that no drink shall be sold in a community although it may interfere with some men’s liberty. The whole of his argument about Society is weak and contradictory. Is the right way to treat the drunkard to shun him as a leper ? Rather let us treat him in a brotherly spirit, and while doing our best to stop the drink evil, let the drunkard have our pity and sympathy. If the writer wait till Society uses its undoubted power to stop this evil, he will wait a long time. While Society may be a great factor in putting down drinking customs, there is something to be said about individual responsibility in this matterWe should each be persuaded in our own mind upon this matter, and without waiting for Society to move, do our best to remove the evil. Prohibition is the best way to reformation and also the shortest way.—Yours etc., ITemperance’