CORRESPONDENCE.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 175, 24 April 1903, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor.

Sir:—On ray return to Motueka I wcs asked to reply to Mr H. Atmore's letter, which appeared in your issue of 3rd April. The challenge to a public debate, with ■ which it closed, I cannot consider, since I am not personally acquainted with Mr Atmore. And the question at issue, viz., What is the real aim of the '•Moderate" paity? hardly seems to demand it. It will be seen that the meaning ot the term "Moderate" will depend upon the attitude of the writer. If one had the interests of the trade at heart, one would, as does Mr Atmore, talk lightly of "ladies" consuming one pint of beer and a pint of wine and spirits during an afternoon's calls, and use this as an illustration of moderation, while, if a man cared for the ruin, caused by drink, he would not, I think, recommend, as does Mr Atmore, the taking «>i such a dangerous drug without the guidance of a properly educated professional man.

The "Moderate" party, which Mr Atmore represents, may be composed of honourabe men who have no interest in pushing the Liquor Traffic, and they may consider that moderation in evil is the first step toward totally abstaining from it ; but one's words shouid show that we realise the evil.

Mr Atmore relies, 1 see, upon Scripture to support him. I would be interested to know how lie would prove the Greek word oinos, as used in the Gospels, to be intoxicating liquor. And I would point out that Paul, whom Mr Atmore also quotes, felt that if he used alcohol his example might lead others to do so, and that they might not be as well able as he to continue a temperate drinker, so he says :—"lt is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth." (Rom. 14. 2iv.) "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. (1 Cor. S. 13V.) It is hardly possible in a short letter to touch on all "the misleading statements of Mr Atmore. There is a reference to a medical man as showing that moderate drinking does no harm to the individual himself. "When the doctor quoted persuades all Insurance Societies to grant policies to those.who use alcohol as a beverage, on as advantageous terms as to these who abstain, then it will be time to consider if he be right. Supposing hifn to have proved that point, it would then rest with Mr Atmore to tell us' how we are to be sure that a man, woman, or child who commenced would continue to drink only moderately. As regards the negative evidence, afforded by a post mortem examination to the injury done to the system by a moderate use of alcohol, no doubt there are such cases, where the microscope will give no evidence. But does Mr Atmore know that there is also no sign of injury in the case of death from delirium tremems, as also in death from several other poisons besides alcohol ? Indeed, in lunatics, also, (who are closely allied to drunkards) there is seldom any microscopic (nor indeed any bodily) evidence of the disease, and we don't'want to be classed with them, do we?

I am sorrv to hear that Prohibition is not a success in some countries. But it is with New Zealand that we have to deal, and I ought to have given my reference for stating that it has been proved to be of use in this country. Anyone can turn up the useful N.Z. Annual, 1899, part r, page 56. and see the experience gained at Clutha, Otago. I should be glad to believe that drunkenness is on the decrease, as Mr Atmore states ;it is certainly time it were. I wish I knew that the “Moderate” Party and the Trade was assistirg in the matter. I am etc., E. S. Dukes. Motueka, 21st April, 1902.