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Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42745, 8 July 1905, Page 3

In accepting an invitation to occupy a seat on the platform at Father Hay’s meeting at Hastings, Dr De Lisle, health officer, replied as follows: “In accepting this invitation, w hich it gives me much pleasure to do, I wish you and others to understand—as I never sail under false colors--that while sympathising with the No License party in their notives, I believe they are mistaken in their methods, which ex - perience', I fear will prove more disastrous than beneficial to the cause they have at heart, viz: The reduction of the consumption of liquor I have hiad upwards of thirty years of general practice, during the whole of my pro feiaional career I havejtaken great interest in the alcohol question, and have studied the matter as fully as my ability and experience permitted. As a result of my experience I fully confirm what my father, who was also a doctor, and who during his professional life had exceptionally good opportunites of studying the question, said to me more than forty years ago, and the longer I live, and the greater the

opportunities of observation I have, the more I am confirmed in the soundness of the views that he expressed : ,«'• If alcohol w»re banished from the world to morrow it wou!d mean death to a very few, and incalculable benefit to the millions.” And he added: — * If I knew that alcohol »ere needed to s v« my life, and I had the power to banish it, I would gladly do so, and yield upmy life for my fellow mer, that they might live more happily and longer in this world.” I hope you excctse an expression of opinion that probably is hostile to your own, but I have arrived at it through year* of careful study and much experience and whether right or wrong, it is my W.pinn and honestly arrived at.”