WISDOM v UNWISDOM.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8740, 12 March 1894, Page 3

WISDOM v UNWISDOM.

TO THX JKDITOR OF THK PR-SS. Sir, —The painful feature in the licensing agitation is that extreme prohibitionists seem possessed with the idea that those who do not pull in their boat are influenced by less pure motives than themselves ; and, therefore, a large, perhaps the most racy, portion of their speeches consists of personal abuse. Is it not childishly silly to throw verbal mud on those who are manly enough to respectfully say that they do not fully agree with their tactics ? Four ends are in view— (1) No licenses to be granted for the next three years (2) Reduction from one per cent, up to twenty-five per cent, for three years

(3) Things as they are for three years (4) The election of a Licensing Board to follow up the result of the poll. To carr.v "No licenses,"fully half of the number on the poll-book must vote and three-fifths of those who vote must vote for that end. If for either reason "No license" loses the count, then all such votes are added to the votes given for " Reduction." Therefore " Reduction " will probably be the winner • but whether such reduction in our Christchurch district be to shut up thirteen houses or only one rests with the new Licensing Board. It is obviously then of absolute importance to nominate good men, pledged in the event of reduction being carried to reduce to the full 25 per cent. Unfortunately our friends, the extreme prohibitionists, have refused to nominate any men—l am told on the ground that a reduction of 25 per cent, might make the trade less injurious than it is at present aud go against prohibition three years hence; but, using their own words, surely such a policy would stamp the prohibitionists who support it as guilty of the blood of those victims slain by the 25 per cent, they thus wilfully permit to continue to sell drink.

In these circumstances the only course for the two Bishops, Dr. Elmslie and myself, as representing the great majority of the ministers of all denominations, is to seek men of the right stamp to go on the Licensing Board. We therefore urgently call for volunteers. Being on the Linwood roll, I am not eligible for Christchurch, and beg not to be nominated ; but may we not hope that a few other ministers and well-known citizens will come forward, and quickly ? The leaders of the liquor trade have treated us as we have treated them, namely, in a just and friendly way. They agreed with us :— (1) Before nominating candidates to submit the names for our approval and to accept one or two from us if we could find them. (2) They would agree to 22£, perhaps to 25 per cent, reduction. (3) They would covenant not to hinder the Licensing Board by litigation. (4) They would unite with us in the rigid enforcement of the law in regard to hours and Sunday closing, &c. (5) They would honestly help us to prevent the adulteration of which we complained. To obtain these results through friendly intercourse is what might be expected from the united action of the ministers with whom I am working ; and while it should merit the vigorous support of all classes of the community, especially of every unprejudiced temperance reformer, we know it has the approval of the majority of the clergymen of the district.

Our purpose was, however, thwarted on Friday afternoon at the V.M.C.A. meeting, by a crowd of heroines who besieged us with passionate entreaties, threats of divine vengeance, fascinating smiles, hands uplifted in prayer, and, most powerful of all, touching tears. -Bless the women ! They came in the spirit of enthusiastic martydom to, "scotch our wheel" though they perished in the attempt; and of course they not only stopped our meeting, but almost persuaded us to join their ranks and let the liquor trade send their own men to the new Board to shut up only one public house instead of thirteen as we wished to do.

But, Sir, we trust that a few ministers and other citizens will volunteer for the new Licensing Board. If so, we will once more approach the leaders of the liquor trade to see if we can, from their and our lists, select eight impartial men who merit the confidence of the citizens; and if not too late we will also try to agree on the five important points already named, particularly the one which undertakes that there shall not be any litigation. Let us try what can be done in one day.

On behalf of Bishop Julius, Bishop Grimes, Dr. Elmslie, and others.—Yours, _c, William Birch, Baptist Minister. Bentcliffe, corner Montreal and Cashel streets. March 10th, 1894.