THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND DRUNKENNESS.

Waikato Times, 13 January 1874, Page 3

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND DRUNKENNESS.

Nn.uiDT every colonial newspaper we take up comments on the frightful demoralisation anfiig from the abuse of strong drink." The SAme story is told in every case : loss of health, loss of charncter, insanity or crime. The only notable exceptions on the part of the newspaper Press of the Australian co'onies are the Arijns «nd Australasian, which deliberalelv champion the Jiqin-r traffic, making weak apologies for the »bu«e of Mint traffic, by resorting do the •tale argument of personal liberty. But the truth is, it 19 not by any means a question unvoting the rights of individuals. It 18, instead, fa question whet her u dangeron* monopoly should be conserved for fiscal purposes. Tue State, intlie interest of public morality, reoti iota- the traffic Win intoxicating dunks bycre.iiing a monopoly, rfhich it furnn to the publicans, bat it fids to take precaution against the latter vending " poi-oned drink " forlhe sakr of increasing their profin. Thu* the Stale becomes a partioipa or in the demoralisation of the multitude, and for that reason, those who control Diibhc affairs are more to blame than the licensees, whose sole object is to make an immediate profit from a very disagreeable and uni opular trade. how, that being so, we cannot join in the agtation in favour of an " Asylum for Inebriates." That propo-al reminds us of tlie u«ele«s precaution of " shutting the stable door after the steed is. stolen." Is it not enough that moderate and w 11 conducted people are t»x>d to maintain jaol , police, hospital-, 1 mafic asUnms reformatories, with magistrates, judges and ciiminal courts, a< the penally rf their tolerating the liquor tnffiir in its present Uirm, Without being rom-p-lied to build and maintain asylums where p rsons addicted to drink may " live at ease," and practise habits of self-i'enia!? We have no sympathy whatever with the sickly senh.r.ent of which the Inebriate A«vlum project is the outcome. Nol that we deny the remedial influence of «uch institutions Doubtless they have done much good. But why I be content to mitigate tl>e disease when it is possib'e to pre vent it? "Prevention is better than cure" in this, as in other diseases ; and we are convinced that if the liquor traffic were properly regulated and precautions taken against the salo ol adulterated drink, combined with rational amusement for the people ni ft «el oil to the dram s'io| <«, the<e would be no need of an Inebriate Asylum, and the criminal expenditure of the country would be reduced to a minimum. The apathy of the authorities on tins vital question has become ruther more than censurab'e at Home and in the cnlnuiei. It appears, from our Irish exchanges, that a maddening compound is being Tended in Dublin, driving men who partake of it to the commission ot" crime, and wholly depriving them of their rra-on, the police being powerless to prevent its sale. Similar inlell genco conies from Englnnd and Scotland. In A Australia, drui kennesi, in«anitj, crime and suicide are rapid'y on the increase; and from every I'ea.Unz settlement in *>Y» Zealand we have the inmosnd tale of ruin, caused by the use of the vilu compou ids xild in public-houses. In tho interest of the respectable publican*, we. a«k that this traffic iliould be guarded against abuse. — Guardian.