THE DIRECT VOTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10109, 7 August 1893, Page 6

THE DIRECT VOTE.

TO THE EDITOR.

, Sisi—With your permission I will deal with the reasons which " Small Farmer” feap assigned * or , hie opposition to the direct vetol We will grant for a moment that the farmers derive some pecuniary benefit from the liciuor traffic. X ask, would that be ft Sufficient reason for wishing to perpetuate a system which is producing nine-tenths of the crime, poverty and misery in this Colony? But I deny that the adoption ■ of prohibition would injure the farmers in any way whatsoever. Every sensible peraou will admit that if the two million pounds sterling expended iu strong drink annually in this Colony were spent in other directions, it could not lail to give a vast stimulus to every industry. Instead of the people purchasing barley-water, they would buy aomething more substantial, iuoh aa beef, mutton, cheese, bacon, eggs, bread and butter. Thus the demand for farm produce would be considerably increased; so much so that it would far more than make up for any loss which the farmers might sustain through the decreased demand for barley. Your correspondent says that if we look at the statistics we shall find that there is a large quantity grown. 1 say that the quantity of barley grown in this Colony is comparatively small. Farmers do not cate to grow it, as it is seldom they can get a sample suitable foe malting purposes. Consequently, as a rule, barley-growing ia not

Srofitable. I question if more than half le barley grown in this Colony finds its way to the brewery. Therefore in the event of prohibition being carried out, the farmers could still grow half the quantity grown now.—l am. &c,, ANOTHER FARMER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—ln reading Sir Stout’s speech in your paper, one is struck with the arguments used by him, about the liquor traffic being a blot on humanity. I for one fail to sea where tho blot takes place. If I take what I think my body needs to sustain nature, what right has anyone to say me nay ? All things were given to us for use, and not abuse. Does being a Good Templar make a man more honest? lam sure it does nob. Does it make him more truthful ? Again I sayno. Why not try and shut up the drapers ? I consider there is more temptation in dress than in drink. I have reared eight of a family and not one of them touch drink; and yet I have always taken my drop before them. Can anyone say that tea prolongs life ? No. When I left to come out here, my great grandfather was 110 years of age, aud had never tasted tea, but always tock good home brewed ale, which all doctors say in good bono and sinew. If these people who are wasting so much cash in this temperance hubbub would try to get an act passed compelling brewers to use only malt, hops and sugar and not chemicals and drugs, they would do more for humanity than they can hope to do now.— I am, &c., KATAPOI.