THE EFFICACY OF LOCAL OPTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2661, 19 May 1894, Page 4

THE EFFICACY OF LOCAL OPTION.

The local option ists, of N.S.W. especially, are making elaborate preparations for securing a larger legislative representation at the next elections, in order to bring Parliament to the consideration of the liquor traffic. It is exceedingly doubtful if these measures will have any appreciable effect in decreasing the long roll of drunkards, who are being increased and manufactured every, day. The drunk, as a rule does not drink because of the barmaid, or because of the company he is in. He drinks because the peculiar wearing effects of life in a civilisation have caused the desire for the alcohol which was a disgusting vice yesterday, and is an absolute indispensability to-day. The capacity of the average man as a consumer of alcohol is, say the pathologists, about 6ozs. All above that quantity stays in the stomach iu its crude state. It rages most fiercely on the grey matter of the brain, and its continued use so hardens the nerve centres that -they refuse to perform their functions without the aid of a fresh stimulant. Then comes the craving for the morning dram to steady the nerves, make an artificial appetite, and tone the flaccid muscles. Religious sentiment objects to our condoning the liquor habit by calling it a disease and not a crime. Once it was a crime, now strengthened by time it is disease and crime both. In the majority of cases all the resolutions in the world, all the signing of pledges, all the struggles of weak nature against the old habit are useless unless backed up by such a material help as Warner’s Save Cure. Safe Cure and Resolution will absolutely destroy the liquor habit. That has been proved in numberless instances. Mr William Patterson, of Cairns, Queensland, writes thus:—“ I commenced the use of your Safe Cure some years ago when it was first introduced into the colonies. I was a very heavy drinker iu my early days, and with the excessive use of spirits my brain became softened and my reason nearly gone, I became alarmed at the state I was in, and would gladly have taken anything that I thought would do me any good. I had a wife and family to support and was in a fair way of business, but could not attend to it as formerly. Reading one day something about Warner’s Safe Cure, I determined to give it a trial. I managed, after some difficulty, to procure a few bottles,Jand commenced its use, keeping strictly to the directions and not taking any strong drink iu the meantime. After using a few bottles my brain became clear and I felt altogether a new man.”