LIQUOR REFERENDUM.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 81, 20 March 1919, Page 2

LIQUOR REFERENDUM.

Sir, —In Monday's issue you publish a report from your Onga Onga correspondent of a meeting at which Mr. C. Lewis of.Makarctu spoke on Prohibition. His argument is summarised hy your correspondent and condensed into two sentences: fl) “Prohibition interferes with the liberty of the subject." (2) “Those who have not the will power to resist going to excess are not worth bothering about. Air. Lewis cannot I**’ congratulated <m either his intelligonce or humanity. Any man with ordinary intelligence would know that the term he uses, i.e.. implies restriction*. B there, be no restriction, no rule, anil no ruler there would neecssarily be no “subject." A subject can have no liberty except such as is delined by that to which ho is subject. Air. Lewis is a subject an<l his “liberty respecting liquor is already restrietecl in common with, the liberty of every other poison in the Dominion and what he says simply reveals his ignorance. But ignorance is not his worst fault, callousness is very much worse than ignorance. though in his case it is probably its offspring. According to Mr. Lewis “the persons who drink to excess are not worth bothering about. ’’ This is “man’s inhumanity to man” with - a vengeance and it Air. Lewis isn t ashamed of the expression and tho sentiment when he sees it set up in cold type then ho ought to be. Every mother in New Zealand will lilt her voice in protest and cry “shame,” lor even if the men who are regarded of such little worth by this “good speaker,” are not my sons and the sons of my friends ami neighbours, they are the sons of some women and doubtless were owe the light and gladness of a happy home. ConcernFug the boys whose strength of will ha's not yet been tested, can Air. Lewis say whether it will be his boy or mine, that may become tho victim of alcohoj, the flotsam and jetsam of this horrible social curse, when they grow to manhoiHl and whether either bis or mine is worth bothering about ? The folks who bother about them and who seek to make straight paths for weak and weary feet are surely closer to the ideal of Him who camo to seek and save the lost, than this man from Alakaretu. Air. Lewis apparently concedes that Prohibition will save these people. I claim that they are worth “bothering about" and for that reason will vote for their salvation on April Itltb, ami many others will do the same.- I am, ADA L. ELLIS. [We have been asked to publish Mr. C Lewis’ contribution to the liquor eontroversv which was pul>li.-h<R last Satiirdav bv the Christchurch “bun. _ As an act <>f justice to him in view of the above criticism we shall publish tomorrow-. To-day the space is not avail-able.-Ed.