THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16568, 4 June 1914, Page 4

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

TO THE KTITTOR Sir—" As a worker" I contend that I -teed a 'stimulant in moderation, which is the right use of said stimulant. 1 have a right to procure, that is. to buy, that stimulant. I havetherefore 'th~ ri'.rht of purchase and use of alcohel'c liquor, which is my stimulant. Under licensing these rights are i "stvict.-d. but not prevented exercise. Under prohibition—no manufacture no sale, no use, no liq"™'—t * d * my rights and I would be rorccd to be a "orohih'Hon : st. Ag.a ; nst all such force wh-ii tlie nmnvfacture. Fair pud ire of ale- holic liquor" U not criminal and involves no moral turpitude. I ana oppo-ed, nnd must vote against any proposal that would take away my rights. If prohibition is to be an aid to religion, and as some argue yon canno!, bo trulv religious unless you are a prohibitionist, then .prohibitionists would say, let the majority of ono rcligon compel all to conform to the majority's vcligion. Look at tho saving of'parson? salaries and the upkeep of f%u*»«hes if we were all com-

pelled to belong to the Salvation Army. If the argument for prohibition is sound and reasonable, the prohibltoin of all the churches save the one possessing the largest number of voters, is equally sound and reasonable. I notico that "Workers' Friend," a falsa friend, says that publichouses are like snares set to catch hares, and that men and women who go into hotels are as stupid as the hares who go into the snares Are human beings to bo compared by prohibitionists to vermin? Hares are a positive plague to somefarmers who snare them. The snares are set to catch hares. Hotels are established for the comfort and convenience of the men and women who usethem. Men and women marry and have children, says workers' false friend, and men spend their money on liquor, to the hurt of their wives and children. This is a gratuitous insult to workers. But if the men who do thi«—l know of none—then the prohibition method would be to prevent such men frm marrying and to deprive them of the privilege of netting ch'ldren to do them hurt. Prolvhit marriage, and will bo no suffering wives and children. —I am, etc., WORKER. TO THE EDITOH. Sir,—My friend Mr R. F. Williams is a wonderful logician. By way of showing that the universal demand for the use of alcoholic beverages does not justify the institution of the licensed trade to sell such beverages, he exclaims, "When did a general demand for a thing over justify a trade of it?" When did a general demand for.anything not justify and establish a trade in it? Supposinrr there was not a general universal 3cniand for alcoholic beverages, supposing everyone like Mr Williams did not drink such beverage.* ('! suppose he is a prohibitionist personally), then there would not only be no justification for the trade, but it could not exist. It is because of the universal demand for and use of alcoholic beverages that civil society established the liberty of all to use such beverages under certain conditions. It is to preserve this liberty that I oppose prohibition. It is for the freedom to enjoy alcoholic beverages at will that I believe in licensing. .

If some men abuse tho liberty they now possess in this, then there is justification for their being prohibited for some time from the enjoyment of that liberty they have abused. That is done now. But to prohibit all from enjoying liberty in this matter for the abuses of a few is not sound, and Mr Williams, if Renson holds her seat with hirn, will realise the conclusiveness of this logic, Masraini says, " Liberty is persuasion to do what is right." Now it is right to take a glass of beer or tea with your lunch, as it suits your trste, therefore to take away that right would be, :\ violation of that liberty Mazzini i (who is ouoted by Mr establishes and extols. If Mr Williams had his. way as a prohibitionist he would prevent u'- from en joy in x tho liberty of d"inking beor or tea as the mojontv of n-"soiif! mii-ht decide. "Oh, foolish ' Enhe<ians." Because alcohol is at onco : a food !'"d a poison, nccordinp: to oinn- ! titv, nv<] b'CHise +--\T is a nerve «tmm- i lent and ;; nerve destroyer aoeord : n«i to ouanti'v, (J-on alcohol a"d tea, are to b- iVm cr-noni ur.° in oi-'-'on! R lT ?h i? the logic of prohibitionists.—l' am, etc., REASON.