IN ITSELF!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 66, 6 August 1914, Page 7

IN ITSELF!

(To the Editor.)

Isir,--'.n this morning's paper we have ui.oiher <.! those vague generalities that people 1 ave recourse to when they are are not, pieparal, or do not want, to face ihe whole question, and give a decision. This time it is a Judge of the Sup.'eme .Court who in that way takes refuge: but there! do. not lawyers in dillk:,iit circumstances know better than the rest of us how to say something mid mean nothing, or say one tiling and mean another? The Judge is repoi u.'d to have said that '•whisky is not a noxious thing in itself."" This iiiformat ion is so important that the Press Association send the news a A over the couatry. What does it mean: Since the Judge will not tell us, we burn tc the Editor, who is supposed to know, or be tl)!c to find out, everything, 'in itself.'' Does that mean in the bottle! If so, the Judge is quite right. Just as d pistol u not a noxious thing in itself. When finished oil and put into its ease even with powder and ball in its chambers—the revolver is not a noxious thing; leave it there and admire the clever workmanship. If, however, it be taken from the case and a finger pressed or. the trigger it becomes a noxious thing a wry truth. In the same wi'.v we may speak of a tiger: not noxhnis in itself when coiled up and asleep. It is to i e admired for its striped coat, its ivory teeth, its powerful limits; but reuse it and it becomes a noxious thing, and the people who live thereabouts try to kill it. -Not a noxious thing in itself''' When does whisky become a noxious, thing? In that disgraceful case at Christchurch. on which Judge Dennist.ri was engaged it. was certainly <i noxious thing. It was a noxious tiling when that man offered it to the girl, perhaps with the desire to get a shameful advantage over her, perhaps only i* a bov points ii pea rifle in fun at his comrade (and then we condemn [".■i-rifles). 1( was a' noxious thing when thr. girl took it into her l'-outh :md swaFowcd it—even the Judg.- .nisi, admit Hint. If wo listen fo the veicc of .-I'irive we shall be told !h:U whi-kv (aVoho"') is always a noxious thing w!i ".i taken inside of :i man, Sony

-,; v that if il h- .rilutcn with valcr it if-' ihi-u r.ot a noxious thine. But ho'.v much venter? Vmfessflr llodge. P1)J). (f fl-u'k lYiver-itv. «ays that one part of nlcvol to ten thou-and of water has a lvirked injurious effect on the

?ini|>Vsl f.-rin- of life-how miicli niOi-o (ii tin- ii-iivc complex systems. Oil! t'i a\ T.---.-«i'- W---CKII t;-w'cv-> n-onlil 1,11 in v.l.m "Wliiskv i- not n..\ii.iK in■s;.l.' a man."- 1 iim. etc. 0.71.M. i |