TRUE TEMPERANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 275, 14 November 1908, Page 6

TRUE TEMPERANCE.

THE FALLACY OF NO-LICENSE. On Sunday last, the Rev. Mr Harper strongly advocated "temperance" r.s against the intemperate fanaticism of '"No-license." Oil all hands we read condemnation of the false code which prohibition sets up and which places the innocent indulgence in a glass of liquor as worse tJia.i embezzlement' immorality, u>ul a thousand and one crimes that llourish in Prohibition States, an intolerance that would shut up every working man's club, and every other AVENUE OF SOCIABILITY which relieves this work-a.-day v world. And every day fresh evidence comes to hand of the utter absurdity of the j position and fallacy of the claims made for "No-license." It has been clearly shown that prohibition does not u~ohibit. Impartial testimony lias proved that the New Zealand Prohibition towns are no better than they should be. The Prohibition party lias to fall back on the little village of Clutha with its town ipuinp interests and trv a-.id get people to agree to retrograde to that level. Regarding it, a travelling showman in New Plymouth this week said: "I always do well in Clutha, but always have terrible trouble' with the drunks there!" Meantime, as we liu>"e said, evidence accumulates, and evidence that no amount of sophistry can get awny with. Here for instance is the reply sent hy the BISHOP OF MAINE, to a Pntmcrston correspondent who had written to him asking his unbiassed opinion as to whether the No-iicenst cause should or should not "be supported by Churchmen in New Zealand." The Bishop's House, 143 State Street, Portland Maine 4/8/1906. My Dear , The .prohibition law in the State of Maine undoubtedly prevents a large amount of drunkenness, but with us it is so mixed up with politics that its influence is far worse than drunkeuuess. Faithfully Yours, ROBERT CODMAN. And here is a reply sent to a Hnwera correspondent bv the jBJSHOP OF VERMONT, in reply to an urgent request for the truth as to the situation there:— PROHIBITION IN VERMONT. HAWERA STAR. Bishop's House,. Burlington. Vermont, August 4. My Dear Sir,— Your letter should have been answered sooner, but that 1 have been greatly pressed with various kinds of work, I should have no hesitation in riW INt! YOU TO RESIST a Prohibition enactment. IT DOESN'T PROHIBIT. That is the verdict from experience Of all prohibition States; Vermont is one. It can be pretty effective in small places where there is comparatively little need. In large places it is a hidcou" failure. Anybody who wants it e.ra get all the drink ho wants aiul the WORST, for directly you attempt to prohibit von forfeit all power of HEOULATINti. IT yEXt'Ot'RA< JES HYPOCRISY, and (to my mindi) most of nil it tenls to break down the sanction of all law. Here is a law which no one professes to regard as really binding. Why should some other law (the sixth, seventh or eighth commandment, for example) la regarded, as any more obligatory T Moreover, it is creating an artifical si i. Not long ago I here was n controversy nq to Which: was the DTtUNKENEST CITY IN AMERICA, I .Portland Or Bangor, the two chief places in Maine, the prominent Prohibition State! 11l the Vermont legislature members vote and speak for Prohibition, that is their duty to their constituents, and then drink for themselves. If we had not an absurd law of parity of representation for each township, whether its voters number ten or 15,000 the law would lie repealed at once.

THE LITTLK I'LACKK that don't have to face the evils oven toil l>y prohibition keep it on the hooka. Of course, there is this to lie said: Prohibition prevent? the open temptation 'io the casual ,passer-by (on his way to or from work) of the corner "public.'' 1 feel sure this is balanced by the ADDITIONAL PROVOCATION to drink (to young fellows) by the mere fact »f lis being forbiddey, when it Is likewise felt that there is nothing intrinsically wrong. It. is like goiiw out of bounds at school. Then, of course, il coiiluses drinking and drunkenness. If the first is wrong, the second is NO WROXdER. With every good wish, Very faithiultv vonrs, ARTHUR fc. HATX, Bishop of Vermont.