Original Correspondence.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1025, 16 March 1894, Page 6

Original Correspondence.

THE LOCAL OPTION POLL.

TO THB EDITOB.

Sir, — We are brought face to face with a great question of social reformation— the most important, perhaps, that has ever been presented to the Cplony. Throughout the length and breadth of the country there are dens of corruption where men — in many cases the heads of families — congregate in the evenings, dose themselves with drink, neglect their family duties, waste their precious tin.c, spend their money, grieve their wives, bring their families to poverty and, it may be, themselves to premature death ; —places also where our young men, whom we look to as the strength and flower of our country, learn drinking, sceptical scoffing, vulgar profanity, or how to perform cleverly .mischievous trick*. I have not been there to see, but •we judge that when nothing better comes out there is nothing better within. Now are these abominations to continue, or are they not ? The answer is asked for on the 21st inst. I appeal to the ladies : My friends, I have great confidence in your judgment on this Biibject. You all know that what I have said is true. Too many of you know its truth from sad experience. The remedy is brought within your reach. I beseech you lift up your hearts and your hands and accomplish your deliverance. The same Providence which of old placed Esther on the side of the Persian throne for the deliverance of her people has placed you on the side of the throne of political power in New Zealand. " And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" There is, a threefold deliverance required. You need deliverance from the consequences of drinking in those bars and saloons ; the poor men who have become the victims of drink need to be delivered from its power ; and the young men need deliverance from the temptation and the snare. It is a great deliverance, and the halfr— l think the better half— rests with you. Do not undervalue yourselves. Consider the dignity of your position, its importance, and your responsibility, and go to the poll. Let no trifle stand in the way. Go in modest dignity, conscious that hnmanity calls for and God approves-of it, and vote for prohibition out and out. No half measures. You know yourselves that to withhold the license from one while you are giving it to three would do very little, and cannot be done with equal fairness to all parties. "Vote that no license be granted. Heed not affected sympathy for the families of the publicans ;. it is hollow and hypocritical, and haß selfish sensuality at the bottom of it. We sympathise with them so far, but the publicans can support their families in other ways that would help society and not be its ruin. Heed not the talk that you will not get a glass of whisky to save you if you were dying. It is not so. It will slill be sold as an ariicle of merchandise in appointed places, bufc there will be no licensed places to sit and drink. Go to the poll in united strength. Let each encourage the other. Go with honest indignation that, according to the law, all whose names are on the roil, whether hale or sick, whether near hand or beyond the seas, will have their votes recorded against you. But notwithstanding all this, if you put forth your united strength, with the help of the gentlemen who will joyfully support you, you will carry your cause triumphantly, and sweep away with a stroke the heaviest physical curse that ever rested on tbis or any other country. — I am, &c, William M'Caw. Glenore, March 6.