CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7174, 28 May 1885, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

j ♦ iie Editor does not hold himself responsible for 7; ' opinions expressed hy correspondents., SHE LICENSING QUESTION AT ■j). NORSEWOOD. SCR, — I am glad to see that the licensing niestion at Norsewood is still occupying r,7 share of public attention. It is a lealthy sign when the greatest of our .oial blots attracts bo much criticism as as been drawn lately upon the licensed ale of alcoholic liquors in this country. Ir. Colenso's letters, I suppose, were onsidered too puerile to be worth nswering. His logic, however, apliaars to have quite satisfied himself, hough I must say I fail to see any nalogy in the comparisons he makes. ?he next time Mr Colenso goes to the" »ush let him get some resident to guide lira over the cemeteries, and when tttiere if to the question •' Who slew all ihese?" the,ariswer comes, "That grave Containing the mother aud children was

filled by coffee drinking, those men who lie side by side over there were sent .hen-gfcy tobacco," I might admit some COiCTpatison, but while he will find a large riumber were sent there by alcohol, he will not find one whose death will be attributed to either coffee or tobacco. If tobacco kills more than alcohol it is no reason that alcohol should be licensed to kill, but rather that tobacco Bhould be suppressed. I wonder what he Leonid think if the teetotallers were to trgue that because alcohol found more ictims than the assassin's knife that (therefore the assassin should be licensed. *If Mr C. believes what he says some authorities assert, there is room for him j'tp" begin a new crusade against tobacco, 'and let him try to eonvii.ee his neighbors of the same thing, and not stand ,idly by and ask, " Am I my brother's 'keeper ?" If Mr Colenso desires to know the other side of the licensing ! '.question, instead of discussing the 7 matter with inine host as he stirs a ;]ittle moire sugar into his favorite let him go to the homes ;7pf: those who have suffered by | the. licenses, and there ask the wife 7:and children, aye, and the lato drunkard fvhimself , what they have to say upon the and he will hear some whole|some facts and probably come away (with altered views. The travelling argument has been pretty well Splayed out ; carried out in. full it simply v>inean_j "There are not a sufficient S'number of travellers through the bush |>to support houses for their accoramodafftipin, therefore the residents must tax itheim selves to the extent of £5000 or p_<sQo per annum, ruin themselves and p"dopn£ra, their families of comfort that iluxuflOus accommodation may be prolyidecDat short intervals for tbe few who Ipo 7-fcravei." For it surely canuot mean Etha't those who do travel cannot either fe3o without alcohol for a few hours or fecarry what thoy require with them. KSn'dhowl would say a few words tii ftthe I? : ratepayers of Norsewood.'* You ■feaVjeudone a.noble work, yon require s ■Liberal Association in your district, yov _g__aave giy.ent Messrs ; Qrmbn d and; Smith £ Kjractio^ great libera ■«|pip^tlia.7tHe7truepbieot of legiala

', good upon the greatest number. You _ have shown that when a monopoly b exists by which the few are fattening y upon the destruction of the many, no matter what vested rights are concerned, you can overthrow that monopoly ; don't £ be depressed because success has not 3 been immediate. Drink is still sold at v Makatoku and Ormondville it is true, r but remember that a powerful organisa--5 tion is arrayed against you, and it is its . object to bring your work into conj tempt, and it is straining every nerve . towards that end. The police are either } inactive or conniving at the violation of the law, but if I know you aright you are not the people to allow such a state of things to exist. You have placed " upon your licensing committee five men to carry on the work of ' their predecessors; it is to be hoped they will prove good men and true, but remember that one who knew • something of human nature said " every man has his price." Every attempt possible will be made to tamper with the members of your committee, so put it out of their power to change their views by coming to the poll and voting against any increase' of licenses. Roll up on Saturday next, as you did at the last election, and you will be comparatively safe and your election troubles over for the next three years. Then you will be able to devote a little attention to the suppression of the illegal sale, and by the end of that term all will acknowledge the benefits of no license. Remember it took several years of license to mature the perfect fruit of the system and produce the series of evils that culminated fourteen months ago in that awful tragedy, that wrung the heart of the whole colony. Do not be dismayed if the whole benefits of no license are not immediately apparent, for it will take some time to rectify the mischief that has been wrought, and make your district all it is capable of becoming. Trusting I have not trespassed too much upon your space. — I am, &c, P.C.R.