CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4315, 10 January 1893, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

"Lifers,"

|To the Editor Wairarapa Daily Times.]

SiR,-Can you tell me if there is any reason why temperance people always endeavour to extort a lifo-long pledge from those who wish to become teetotallers. If nothing but custom and the fear of departing from an established precedent attaches them to this stringent course, let them at once abandon it aud achieve good in doing so. Th ey also need not mind being original, although this quality is outside tho comprehension of most men, for the age has yet to come when erery individual will be compelled to strike out into new linos whenever somo-1 thin« has to bB achieved; when, in short, they will need to think and to not as a result of that thought rather than to copy, Although in some cases persons can wisely be asked to take a pledge of abstinence for life, it would certainly be more sensible in many instances to ask them to bind themselves only for a limited period of time-to place them, indeed, on probation, Thon, when the initial term had expired, steps could be taken to seouro a or the Bubjeot of the bond would wish to prolong his engagement himself,

Porsonslly I would sign a pledge for a year; possibly even for two yeare, but I certainly would not do 80 for life; and there are many such. These the Temperance advocate either misses altogether, or else he persuades them to'joiD the cause against their inclination and thereafter has to reap the bad harvest of a broken vow. A moderate drinker can face tho musio to the tune of a year's pledge, and so can a" hard case," but many would faint ero they started at the prospect of a lifelong restraint whioh bya succession of over-lappingpledgos might possibly be faithfully adhered | to, but whioh as one everlasting con* ' tract, is asking too much of frail halting human nature. Commending my suggestion to Mr Tennyson Smith and other leaders of the coming power,—l am, etc.,

Masterton, 9th January.