THE LICENSING BILL. (To the Editor.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 293, 11 September 1873, Page 6

THE LICENSING BILL. (To the Editor.)

Sir, — The Licensing Bill, produced this year by the most sincere advocate of social reform in New Zealand, is to be greeted with acclamation by a^l who are interested in the prosperity and progress of this country. This is the first instalment of legislation in favor of the final suppression of inordinate drinking and public debauchery. The introduction of this Bill will afford an opportunity of testing the question which has been of late years so strongly assailed by one party, and so ably defended by another — i.e., the suppression of the drinking traffic by act of Parliament. A bill to empower those interested to control excessive drinking, will indeed be a boon and a great improvement on the present system of open drunkenness. Should the prohibitory clauses be retained in the bill, it cannot be doubted but people will be found in some districts with the moral courage to test its effects, and suppress many of the present licenses, even to the extent of refusing all. This will give good substantial data, and will be valuable assistance to future legislation without the necessity of calling witnesses from the State of Maine, as has been necessary at the present time. In young countries public opinion on subjects of this kind is somewhat eccentric, and greater latitude is allowed to individuals in following any peculiar weakness even to excess than in old countries. Public opinion can thus only be expected in the distant future to exert sufficient influence on the people as to remedy drunkenness in an important degree. In this country public opinion tolerates intemperance in any one short of say, a local preacher, and even he would be tolerated if he were jovial and congenial in his cups. Total abstainers again are looked upon with some suspicion, and talked about as being " worth watching.'* It is evident that I public opinion is not opposed to >ti- : temperate drinking ;• hut on the contrary its influence favors drinking, and hence encourages drunkenness in a negative form at least. This must be the. conviction of impartial observers, for even the teachers of morality have given their silent assent, and acquiesced, in the present state, at least there is no; evidence to the (jontr^ry., D,r. unveil"

ness is abundantly exhibited in all the small centres of population throughout the province, and chiefly by those who occupy the higher walks of life, eitherfrom profession or circumstances. Their Bacchanalian orgies are held openly, and without the slightest apparent compunction. In the midst of this will any one seriously maintain that public opinion is a fit instrument to eradicate drunkenness with all its contaminating influences on fche young, and its evident thraldom over its victims ? Is this festering blotch to remain corrupting society until 4 publicopinion of this sorteffects a cure? These open examples to the ignorants who are untrained in the habits of aelfdenial is momentous, and ought to be made criminal to traffic in the cause t Before public opinion or moral suasion can reform drunkards effectually, it must first itself be reformed. The victims to intemperance are sacrificed on the altar of public opinion ; their offence is light compared with the sacrifice they make, but a calloua in* difference to their ruin, and that of their friends whoemay suffer, is criminal on the part of the responsible public. It is needless to declaim against the evil effects of intemperance ; it unfortunately is too palpable, and were it not for the impediments to progress and prosperity, politicians might permit it to remain without check ; but when we find our vast wealth disappearing without any permanent result, when we find that probably onethird the wealth of Gabriels has been consumed to allay the inordinate appetites, created by the permission of the present system, surely we are justified in wishing Mr. Fox's Bill God speed. It cannot be expected that persona whose infatuations have swallowed up fortunes could be refrained By even a reformed public opinion so long as the temptation is so openly placed in their^ way. For this reason I hail the present' measure as being the only effective^ means of absolutely removing this' debasing cvil — this promoter of crime, lunacy, and premature death. It would! indeed be a heartless community who would look on with indifference and permit this state of things to remain without looking round for some remedy. There are few but see the ravages and bittenness which it causes, and, while deploring its effects, many would willingly surrender the little liberty requisite to check its course. The difficulty is not so insuperable were it not that there are a few who have fortified themselves within this traffic, and have lived and fattened on the present system. From these there will cornea how-1, and no end of declamations against what to them' will be the coercion of a despotic majority — the infringement of the liberties of the subject, the suspension of constitutional law, and a host of strong arguments in favor of maintaining our present rights and liberties intact, and especially those privileges which permit the free and independent subjects to have A "jolly drunk " without fear of restraint* and for them to reap a good harvest, from them. This is the meaning of all the opposition to prohibiting the sale of intoxicating drink. It is useless to reason with this class. At same time justicej ustice should be done them, and some compensation might fairly in justice be demanded by them requisite for the loss of their license. Disinterested persons will readily recognise the necessity of remitting in some measure tfp^ liberties now enjoyed in this respec^p as they would of removing a stinking cesspool from the midst of a city. So long as it is consistent with free institutions and advanced civilisation to withhold a portion of individual liberty* so it will be to. maintain the moral and physical state of the community generally. Were public opinion rectified and animated by a high moral tone, no doubt the nuisance caused by the drinking habits would soon be re^ moved, and the introduction of prohibitory measures would be immediate and effective. lam led to ask your valuable space for the foregoing from a firm conviction of its importance, and a belief in the good effects of public discussion as remedies for diseases in society. — I am, &c, Ich Dien.

A home paper asserts that there is a split amongst the Grand Templars, inasmuch as a certain portion of them have given themselves over to a beverage known as vegetable beer, which the other side alleges contains a large percentage of alcohol. A short time ago an enterprising flax manufacturer in Otago conceived the idea of testing if the roots of this plant contained any coloring matter. Some of the roots were boiled, and a portion of pre~ pared flax was cast into, the decoction. Upon the material being examined next day, it was faund to have assumed a brownish tint. It is well known different shades of color can be obtained from many of bur trees and plants, and it ia suggested that a small bonus might be, profitably given for- the production of dyes from indigenous plants. The quantity of work; possible for a, European in ths northern climate- is about, hajf what a man can do. in Victoria. It is not that the temperature is so very much higher, but it ia the moist heat, and seems to draw- the marrow from one's, bones. It is the practice to get up with, the first glinvner of dawn, and proceed towork as Boon as- possible. At or about 0 a. m. exhaustion ensues, and all the work is knocked out of one for the remainder of the day.. Supposing thp reefs discovered* turn out as rich as some of the outside; Bendigo ones, haw ia it possible they will pay when two men will noc be able to, move the same quantity of stone njpyej^l by on.c ift yipjtppa.^