THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2335, 10 September 1877, Page 3

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

(To the Editor of the Star). s»m,—l wonid like to ask you a few questions in relation to the letter (signed Q) iv your issue of thsjlth. Q.. as 1 take it, in the present case, means queer, and he must bo a queer man to take respectability by appearance. 13 it respectable for the proprietor of an hotel to allow an ofci man who was barely able to walk, much less work, to run a bill of above £1 for drink, which old man died of starvation lately in New*oa I TMs is respectability. Q. states that the clergymen, doctor, ludges, church members, Sunday school teachers, merchants, and the ufauroli itself supports the traffic. Now. I should Tike to know how the church itself support.? the traffic. I have had it stated that * is niised with the mortar, bat I think not. T-kis is the Mio.it important question, please give iae the solution ot: it. How many clergymen have supported it. until they could not support. *ain3alveß. and have been excelled from fine o^raii, aVi of whom were termed respectable *atil the fruits of the liquor traffic began to *i)p»ar in them, and then they were termed beasts. These were, and are, some of the supporters of the respectable traffic : and it is not uncommon for Sunday-school teachers, doctors, -judges, and church members, to be b-o;*'j-ht to d-jrra.Ta; ion by its moral effect. 1 'isdc-rstand why merchants support it, many of vVfiom arc interested in it from a financial

point of view, which your correspondent "Q" might be. Mr Editor, don't you think that he might have put his name to his letter as a voucher for the respectability of the traffic ? (No. don't say he is ashamed ; I don't believe it.) If tae traffic was left alone it would be perfectly moral; and it would not need such support if it was not for the inconsistency being practised by the respectable (moral) people, soino of whom hold leading posifioni? in church and State- As the song has it, did people know there are many we would pass by with scorn whom we are loading with high*honors now. Tn relation to the very large capital employed in the traffic, two - thirds of it is monopolized by the publicans and brewers, and the rest goes to support the criminals, lunaiics, &c, So much for the large capital employed. The Church admits it. There are soma who would think it very handy if the churches had a license for the vestry, especially when there is a dry sermon on. so that they could get an "eye-opener," as it is termed. The teetotallers would not have you believe that it is only the disreputable, the low, and vicious, but can throw you some Princes in as your patrons. That should be a balm to your sore I do not sec that the facts recorded shew conclusively that the community don't endorse the denunciation of the liquor traffic. I believe that they do endorse it if I am to take into consideration that there were over three hundred signatures obtained by me* in Queen-street alone, against the traffic. By pnd by, according to templars, they will wish they "had. V."o shall see Now if Q had asked a templar, ho would not have been told that we shall see, but that we shall not see. The future generations will see. if you will kindly insert this in your columns, " For the cause* that lacks assistance, for the wrong that needs resistance, for the future in the distance, and the good that we can do, you will greatly oblige,—Yom-3, &c. J. T. Ij. Dinks, G.T.