WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

Evening Star, Issue 8154, 1 March 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

TO THE EDITOR, Sir, —If any temperance advocate had spoken of such direful results following the allowance of the drink traffic to continue in our City as appeared in your issue of last evening, ho would have been accused of spoiling his case by extravagant statement. An inquest on a man burnt to death whilst under tho influence of liquor; three women sentenced to terms of imprisonment for being drunk and disorderly; two men charged with causing a disturbance when drunk ; and one application by a wife for a prohibition order against her husband—such was the record for one day. If only once a year we had to deplore such heart-breaking cases it should be surely enough to stir all who have a desire to raise

the fallen and help the weak to do all in their power to put away the temptation of the open drinking bars. But this account of one day’s work of the drink is but a sample of what is happening every day. True, not every day is a man burnt to death as a direct result, but it is no uncommon thing; and when such a terrible disaster does happen it becomes us to ask “Who is responsible for it?” Clearly it is not those who last year and last week used their vote against the continuance of the traffic in Dunedin. Their hands are clean. Who is it then ? Shall we attempt to lay the responsibility upon the brewer and the publican ? That would indeed be a farce. These men know that their trade means the destruction of men and women, but what is that to them ? So long as by their license they are permitted to ply their death-dealing trade the responsibility is taken from them, and placed upon the shoulders of those who grant the licenses.

No doubt the publican who sold Johnston the liquor that caused his death is awfully sorry, and tho neighbors round about and those who knew the man deplore his sad fate. But is this to be the end of it ? Will the citizens of Dunedin thus allow men and women to be prepared for the gaol, the Benevolent Institution, the grave, that a few men may enrich themselves and the revenue be increased by a few paltry pounds ? Will our Press continue to ridicule the efforts of those who would put a stop to tho evil, and lend their support to the promoters of it. If so, then a day of retribution will surely overtake them, —I am, etc., Light. Dunedin, February 25.