“QUITE PLAINSH.”

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 253, 6 September 1928, Page 1

“QUITE PLAINSH.”

A reader forwards the following letter:— (To the Editor). Sir,—You seem to take a good deal of delight in telling other people how to live, and perhaps that is your business, but it seems to me that you exceed your duty when you arrogate to yourself the right to inform all oi those who may happen to enjoy an occasional drink of “ Scotch ” on oc-

casions. I have been presented with a fine bottle of Scotch whisky for Christmas, and it is before me as I sit at my typewriter and indite this letter to you. It is a good, well-bodied liquor'- which I am assured was bought before the war and has been in my friend’s cellar ever since. What right has any form of law to make me a criminal if I partake of this gift as it was intended that I do by the giver? I claim that any such law is an invasion of my personal liberty. I notice that you have referred often in your excellent columns to the so-called Bill of "Eights

which secures to all men and women certain inalienable rights to their personal liberty, which, as you say, are not inconsistent with the rights of others. How do you reconcile your statements? I have just tasted this bottle of liquor, I will confide to you, and 1 cannot see where or how I am invad- , ing the rights of any other person on earth. I find it excellent. It warms my stomach; it inspires my thought. -I cannot feel, Mr. Editor, that I havu wronged the community or added to ] the lawlessness of the general society in so doing. It makes me tired to be classed as a criminal for any such occasion, and I notify you that before long, there will be a revolt against the sort of stuff you arc writing. Just to show my independence of such truck as you are writing I have taken another drink of the aforesaid most jubilant Scotch, and I will say to you that it is about as 'smootd a drink as a criminal ever put into his system. The second drink, which I shall soon follow by a third, makes me more certain that those who feel their systems require stimulant, should band together, organise, and start a campaign to floor this Volstead business if it can be done. Now, Mr. Editor, I am no bum, and

you can’t make me a bum. I like a little drink now and then and I have taken a third or may be it is a fourth, and I more than ever convincew that any men thqt doen t is a big idot. You say that this evabion of the law is producing a sta6e of affairs in our Grear nand Glorious Country. You are wronk. This ciuntry is jess as good as it ever was and was a great deal better country and I will leabe it to you i iit wasnßt, when we had free rum. I want to sa to you that this Secitch is all right. A lot of it wouldt do us harm. When we ened stimulany we need it. My grandafyer was brougr up on rum. They had it in the housd all the time. They dranj it freely and even the minstew drank it when he kame to our housa. Itßs a pretty kinf of a cointry when our garndson is better than his gundfaher. I can wrink this sort of Ccutck al day and not be no worst a citoxen that I was befote. I could drink this hole quaet audd neger quiber an etelash. Bue whay I wneat o f yiu is to re mund yiu oner agai aian abd agnain thqt you arw deadwronh ib consfeng ing ever t dony whu dri nls as a bouhm .We aint criulals. x x I will sat inxlosihg , thqt I wisg yiu A 2meßrT cHrihYwaX” & Tblb haOoy Ner Yrare. ® tt U Eexc evtfillu Yioytdx OSBdit Swrv-5T.... w WllLie b . FuLLeR -