THE TEMPERANCE VOTE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 223, 20 September 1887, Page 4

THE TEMPERANCE VOTE.

To THE EDITOB OF.-THB " EVENING MAIL." Sir,— Endeavoring in all things to affect the happy medium, although I extend to the Temperance party a cordial recognition, my strongest sympathies incline to the disciples of -moderation. I write with no desire to provoke controversy, but the present position of a certain correspondence in your columns between " Veritas ' and "Homey" has induced me to inirude this communication. "Vcritas," who apes a ponderous style, well bolstered with adjectives, has now plainly denned his position, although I gather he presumes to be wrangling from the N.Z. Alliance platform. His opponent " Homey " has very skilfully taken him to all points of the compass, and entirely drifted him from his supposed original vantage ground. And, moreover, great credit is due to " Homey " for making a weapon of the religious argument without letting the correspondence sink into those Biblical dissertations so peculiar to Nelson newspaper controversies. The case, from the observation of a disinterested party, might be summed up this way, that "Veritas" is writing at the utmost tension of high pres sure, while " Homey " is writing well within his resources. " Veritas " adopts the belching bluffing style, while " Homey" uses fewer words and writes in that ever successful strain of gently patronising his opponent.

As to the argumentative powers used in this affray it has been very much on one side. I notice by the most recent shot that only the good part of the wine is the work of the Creator. This is really absurd. Man can combine and dissolve properties from their combinations, he cannot create every element.

Every constituent property of chemistry

forms part of the great material universe, and the alcohol exists prior to its detachment from its base. Through the process of fermentation alcohol exists and will ever exist, being indestructible. So the only manner to combat with it successfully is by the power of moral suasion, or if the individual is ■weakminded, assiduously cultivate his strongest

prejudices against it. It cannot be classified with prussic acid and other dangerous poisons, as in its pure state it is used largely for medicinal purposes, and as a beverage used in moderation it affords comfort and happiness to thousands. Humankind are selfish, and those who enjoy the pleasure of light indulgence will in very few cases resign those enjoyments for the general weal. This loads me to another recent development of the Tenaperanca movement, viz , the attempt to control the driuk traffic. The burning question of this pbnse is the mnter of compensation to publicans in the event of their housrß being closed. I observe that the formula of the Alliance statsa that the people should have the direct veto (i.<\ Local Option), and the next paragraph states that no compensation is to be given. I presume that in the event of Local Option coming into, vogue publicans who have improved their properties under the cxis iog Act would bavo no redress when the bozard of being refused a license is increased. The contract of the publican ia to abide by the provisions of the present Aci", and to comply with the resolutions of the Licensiog Committee as to improvements, ar,d any enactment of Government jeopardising his position would in my opinion constitute a broach of contract, for which a sum would bo recoverable. The other compensation which the'Allfauce adherents confound with their programmers compensation under the existing' Act. The present license is only granted for p year,' but clauses etipula 1 ing as to improvements, &c, imply an nnuual renewal so long f.s there is no infringem°nt of the Act. Whi re a uou-e is badly conducted the proprietor doeß nob conform to the Act, nnd has numerous endorsements on his license, so compensation ig out of the question. But should v respectable house bo shut up by any Commiitee, in the interests cf the Alliance or any one else, al' hough the landlord altioily'lcx scripta might have no apparont redress, in my opinion there is a breach of an implied contract, nnd he could recover heavy damages by filicg a euit in equity. In conclusion I trust that this ques ion will not seriously affect the coming election, as there are far more important and greater issussflt stake. With all duo compassion for come intemperate temperance advocates, I would suggest that tho presant election be contested on its tneritß, sa the meet capable men are required at this crilio.il juncture to pilot the Colony through the present grave crieiß. So I con only hope that ench independent elector will use hip own individual judgment and support whom he considers tho souudesh, wisest, and mo t sagacious candidate, nnd not shoulder up with the bovine crowd, who go one way like a flosk of sheep to record i.Keir vote.

I atn.&c, Lex.