WAIMATE’S DRINK BILL.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 170, 25 February 1902, Page 3

WAIMATE’S DRINK BILL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sik, —In 13'Utt of 22'icl your corroapoadent “Fair Dink win ” makes so mo remarks and put. > a few queries, t.o winch lasi; permission t> reply, should squc 1 and approval allow. There n :>iot “ loomuch fervid oratory ” on thm drink qlie-ti n, considering the effects .of. the custom of iniug intoxicant.'. There in far S. c little of eunu-“t appeal and faithful warning against the custom hero and throughout New Zealand. Yes, tha publican ami the whole-aiie licensee do “ get all the money spent, here in drink,” except tnero be any person cun'iing on illicit sale, of which we have no pioof. ' Yea,' 'il:ey have to pay the initial expenses of house, 1 provide table and sleeping accommodation for travellers, p*y servants, provide want* of a large house, keep up stock of these liquors, meet trade Io:-sea, etc. ; yes, “ r-,pairs, furniture, insurance, earning, washing, lights and tiring ” have to be paid for. Hut the question is not what becomes of the money the licensee secures ; the question is, what is the good derived by the people fr nn tiie enormous expenditure by the people on the&j inti meaning liquors? Many of these people have claims and responsibilities of a most important Hud which this drink-expendi-tu.e entirely disables them from fulfilling.' Uf course those licensed should observe and k'.ep the law’ like other people. As to the., item if expense which your correspondent., nearly omitted, the 'crniPFioo or'rmi is quite immaterial tp the point, viz., the It,leasee's liability to he asked for subscriptions “ and which ho gives in every deserving case, and of, on in others.” I dare say that does amount to a good sum, but if the licensee devoted every penny of hie prolit to church nr charity, to relief of distress or destitution, that does not make the effect of the strong liquor he sella less harmful, or mitigate one iota of the miserable and tragic cficctaon the drinkers and their faiuiliea. The profits may be great or sindl but tho effect of intoxicating drink is neither email in amount ur, intensity, remote. in time or distance. Wa all can open our eyes, if not sealed up by gold or acquired appetite, and see. We certainly deny the correctness of the statement, “ that not one tenth of the country hotels could present the creditable accommodation for tho public ” that they do unless they had this source of revenue, ptc. Not only do I belit-ve this is vat the case, but I believe that by discording the sale of strong drink, hotels bath in country and town would require enlargement and th» opening wide of the entrance doqra, to allow the incrraseci accommodation required fqr men, women and children, and this without courting pcrnibsion from licensing committees, draad of police inspection, or fear of incurring tho outraged fc lings of wives, children or friends of customers. “ Pair Djnkum” writes fairly and we believe as he says, ia the ini crests of fair play. The question is nob does the licensee make much profit or.little by sale of liquor? ,or, what does he do with tho p: ofiis ? The question is, what good do ths people get for the enormous yearly sum spent by them on tho articles ? If tho publioan wars oho o! our dearest and n-areet relations; if he were saintly and of pa excojrtionably good character; if he gave, of Tiia goqds, to the poor, end wore locally and nationally v unselfish and patriotic, all ilia.,would, not les«en the harm done by the drink he, sold, or mitigate the sorrows, aod sufferings of the victims of drink amongst his customers, —I amj etc., . ...- , ./Tv ' . ..