INTEMPERANCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 291, 28 August 1873, Page 5

INTEMPERANCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — I think you will agree with me that thore is no right-thinking mind but must be tilled with alarm at, the awful strides intemperance (or drunkenness) ia

making throughout New Zealand. \ would almost venture to say that in any issue of any paper published in the colony, you will iind some crime, accident, case of insanity or death distinctly traceable to the effects of intemperance. I am glad to see that at last some of our rulers* are beginning to take some notice of the evil, and are trying to devise Borne means to lessen the evil ; and in my opinion they are taking the light steps towards effeoting that very desirable end. Mr. Bathgate, lately, In speaking on the subject of the Licensing Bill, said :— "There should be some recognition of tho confirmed drunkard. Any person brought before the Bench three or four times for drunkenness, should be considered a confirmed drunkard ; and any publican supplying him with drink should have his license taken from him." I am well aware that many men will drink to excess as long as they can get it, so. we must hail with satisfaction any measure that will make the obtaining of it more difficult. It is all bunkum about interfering wiih tho liberty of the subject as regards what a man should be allowed to drink. Drunkenness in many cases is a disease, and must bo treated as such. If we have any suspicion that a man is going to take poison, we do all in our power to prevent him ; so we ought to do in the case of those helpless creatures who have no will of their own strong enough to keep thorn from indulging in that which is as sure in its results, although slower than any of the poisons that are taken foi the purpose of causing death. Hoping the subject may be taken up by Borne abler pen than that of your humble servant, Hope.