TO THE EDITOR.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, Volume 1, Issue 34, 22 November 1901, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —'In your ls,.s£ issue ihe?e was a letter under the above heading, signed " True Reformer/ I bow lowto "I?ruc Ifefovmer,*' and respectfully wish permission *.q differ fynnj.opinions stated in that letter.

Geniue evw commands profound respect, and I stand in wondering awe before it j for how else could ordinary man. befove a mind .so gigantic} so comprehensive in its grasp, that it can witli impunity teim the arguments froia such names as will follow, f( Old washy platitudes," and doubtless the dueling light from 'True.Belormer" sees these men as »' Shallow ranting his Prohibitionists " peeping*iibdufc under huge legs to find their opinions dis= honourable graves, First wehave the Latfi Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, looked on and trusted in as holding by merit, the highest judicial post it is in thft power of our Empire' to bestow. Next is Baron Lfebeg, one of the foremost scientists'of the century. He it is who affirms that seven hand, red and thirty gallons of the best beer contains 'equernoupUUmeat to & five pound loaf. On whose side of the argument eoiuea the "washiness" here?

None can feel anything but proud •to learn there is such giant intellect in our midst, and all must feel sorrow that its vast, far-reaching light should be not move recognised, for who can dispute it? The*innate modesty shimmering soft as evening glow throughout " True Reformer's" Wtor proves it,

Carlyle, possibly as well knowii as "True Reformer," says : — "No man oppresses thee. 0 free and independent franchiser) but does not this stupid pewter pot oppress thee ? No son of Adam can bid thee cone or go, but this absurd pot of heavy wet can and does.' Thou art the thrall, not of Cedrie the Saxon, but of thy own brufal appetites, and this accursed dish of liquor. And thou pra'est of thy liberty, thou entire Mockhead!"

In conclusion let me state that every transmitted tendency of the strong drink curse is a bad tendency. It neither elevates nor refines • it does degrade and demoralise; it does curse thousands more than wat and pestilence combined. It is without mercy; it has not one redeeming feature. Space permits no more at present. Yours sincerely, " The Heretic."

TO THE EDITOR. Will you kindly allow me a small space to reply to "True Reformer"

It is to ''men and women of discernment and sound judgment" that we are indebted for the great Temperance organisations of the day, commenced over 60 years ago by 7 working men iii Preston, England, and which have proved so great a blessing to thousands of homes where banish.ing strong drink lias brought peace, comfort and contentment.

The founders of the movement wisely went to the root of the matter by removing the cailse* and as a consequence the effect ceased; You cannot make a drunkard a moderate drinker but all drunkards were once moderate •drinkers and flattered themselves they edilld continue so.

Total abstinence froni all iiitdxicating liquors, has proved to be the only solution of the drink question, single, logical^ and e'ffee'tive; beneficial, alike physically, mentally, and morally to the inditfidu&l and proinoftve df tha best interests of the state. "True Reformers remarks on prohibitdn districts are misleading and" altogether at variance /with facts. Wherever licensed^houJfesThave been closed, tha condition of the people has improved; the children are better fe 1 and clothed, more comforts in the home; and altogether ate more cheerful and happy. There is overwhelming evidence to prove this

Strong drink will do its deadly work, whether sold at a licensed hotel or at a sly grog shop. The building in whiili it is sold does iiot alter the character of the drink.

We do not call a man a criminal because he takf s a glass of wine occasionally, but he is not an abstainer and is doing nothing to help on the grand movement to rescue the people from the drink demon, his example is a stumbling block td the weaker brotk-

\ er. On the other h ml, the example of th t staggering drunkard is ft warn? ing aud defcevent to our youngs nieu. In the ranks of the Tempm-fijou forces are to be found ineii aijil wo : | men, the excellent of the earth, n->l/l,j and §elf-sacrific ng to benefit wthev.s, spending their lives, J.iqt t-> pli'ii.-j-i themselvesj but )ii tJje fallen frqm. the depths qf deg-redajtion tlw dviijk cur^e has b^qug-ht tlienj tq, to use their votes and ii^^iience Agai^^t legalising a traffic seijd§ ihqusand;; to a dvunkaidsj grave every ye^r, h respiqnsihjje fqr njqst qf t)l*'. poverty and cringe lyhich entajjs. such heav>' burins qn the ratepayers-' ai^l is cqr--sup4flg and Hnderminjn^ jl^e njoral an 4 gq.cial life of the nation. $alus Populi, 29. N(oy. 1901.