SLY-GROGGERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 138, 29 October 1912, Page 3

SLY-GROGGERY.

To the Editor. Sir,—"Co-op." expresses surprise at my statement re the consumption of liquor along the Whanga. railway line. No doubt long acquaintance with the trade has destroyed his vision, and his mental capabilities must be of a very low and beery quality. He says the conditions are not so bad as they used to be. Well, they must have been bad! Does "Co-op" know Jiow many men have passed through the Whanga. police cells since they were opened? Perhaps his alcoholic brain is so muddled that he does not know that they hold regular sittings of the police court to deal with the wrecks of humanity that are strewn along the Whanga. line. Does lie know that the public works officials had to issue notices that any man who was away from work through drink had to lose two days for every booze day? lam not aware that I used such an expression in regard to the men as to call them brutes. The name is not half bad enough for the grog traders. I have carefully scanned the dictionary and cannot find a word in the English language that will lit them. I say again, Mr. Ed ; "<r. that the decent men and women will hail with delight the day the liquor is swept out of the district, whether under license or slygrog. The conditions under both systems have the same results, namely, the degradation of the men, women and children; and we are looking forward for what the great Reform Party are going to do for us in regard to this business, and trust the day is at hand when the "Trade" shall be no more—l am, etc., KOHURATAHI.