THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
Maoriland Worker, Volume 9, Issue 354, 20 February 1918, Page 6
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THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
Editor, "The Maoriland Worker,"— The liquor question has received such a U-t of attention from able writers of all sec:ions that 1 feel n certain .hesitation' in handling tho subject, at all. To mc it seems absurd that a. Democratic Gov-. emmont, such as we arr> supposed to have, caD sit still and allow its people to be poisoned for the benefit of a few. Caji't United Labor make up its mind exactly what would be best for tho community and make it on« of its recruiting attractions? It seems to mc that a tremendous lot of our working- meu see in the opponents of the liquor system only wowscrism, unci they are only concerned because they see an attempt to take away what they call their "liberty."
The only liberty I see is tho liberty of J the brewer ancl publican to poison them, and to rob th-eir children of their birthrigh!. Why don't we in oar own interests overthrow a tytitein of tho rottcne.M, profiteering and- place in its stead another State-manufactured and StateooiK rolled supply t> i" whole-sumo drink lor tlio.-c of us wh,» care for M '■ Why! should ««' l>e coiiiix-'llrd lo drink w>mothing Jhat'A iiniimnii (iircd ;ui<l fcold with tho ono pui[ii.>>o of nuikinj,' lib want more:- Why should our ymi I Its hove to come in contact every I inio they want v. drink, with mm and women wlio>e ono and. ouiy object in lilt' i rf t° s<;U them niorc: J It's only excessive drinking of good beer that is harmful, and there's only one thing starts an ordinary man drinking to excess. It's the "busiuPFs" system practised by the publican: ilie "have owv.- with m<:. ,, that the barman springs on when his customers require livening up. The poor youth who is turned out by tho State without any education nn the, lines of a broad morality, will drink himself into a staTe of maudlin imbecility for thf> privilege of calling the barman "Bill." Oh, the feeling, of manliness when the barmaid says. "My tiwn. drinks round:" How long before we cut. the parasites adrift? How much longer will we allow our μ-elfaro to remain in the hand? of a few of tho most morally degraded beings of the human race? As workers wo can see the evil of a system that allows some men to fatten on our labor. How much easier it should bo to see tho evil of a system that allows a few ghouls .to fatten on (ho mental and moral degradation of thn wrak, and worse still, by their business methods, to attain wealth that otherwise would be used to givo innocmt children a. chance in life. It is nor. the moderate drinker that keeps the bivwor and tho publican in luxury; it is tho man on whom they can rely to spend every penny ho can afford, and more. Lot us if wo want beer and spirits at least get tiw> manufacture and supply of thrm into our own hands. When only the best well be made, no one will have an interest in either forcing it on the weak or in poisoning it; and any profit derived from its eale will come back for our public welfare. —Yours, etc., L.P.
