DRUNKENNESS. (To the Editor.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 292, 4 September 1873, Page 5

DRUNKENNESS. (To the Editor.)

Sir, —l noticed in your last week's issue a letter signed "Hope* on the above subject; and, while agreeing with him as to the necessity of something being done to lessen the evil, I doubt whether Mr. Bathgate's idea would do much towards the desired end. He says: " When any one has been brought before a magistrate three or four times for drunkenness, he should be considered a confirmed drunkard, and dealt with as such;" but how many confirmed drunkards are there who are never brought before a magistrate ? What is to be done for them ? I think if there was a little more of the spirit of charity displayed by those who are, or would like to be considered, benevolent persons, some good might be done. What is the usual course followed if a man gets on the " spree V Why his friends and acquaintance shrug their shoulders and pass him by on the other side, call him poor devil, fool, &c. I do not know whether they think the cold shoulder metlwd is likely to be most productive of good, or whether because a man sometimes gives way to intemperance that he is quite lost to all sensativeness. I am quite of a different opinion, as I think at certain stages some men are more sensitive to slights than they would be in their perfectly sober moments, when their minds are clear and more competent to judge intentions. There is far too much of the Pharasaical spirit —thanking God that they are not as other men, and stopping there, without attempting to make those other men better —even amongst those whose duty it is to try and strengthen the weak and helpless. —Apologising for trespassing so far on your space, I am, &c, Charity.