LICENSING LEGISLATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19831, 29 December 1927, Page 12

LICENSING LEGISLATION.

Sir,—lf an object lesson were required to demonstrate the craftiness of the prohibition mind, it was provided by the attitude of the " dry " members of the House on the Licensing Bill—an attitude which was a forecast of the tyranny we may expect should they ever succeed in despoiling freeborn Britishers and our fellow-countrymen of their right and privilege to judge for themselves and to think, speak and act as they pleatie—provided thev offend not their neighbour. It was made clear that anything approach-' ing reform in the licensing system is anathema maranatha with the prohibition leaders Their vision is t6o stunted to see the benefit ot regulation. Abolition is their slogan, and their frenzied efforts to put it in the power of 337,539 voters to dictate to 337,538 voters that the latter shall not keep alcoholic beverages in their homes for their private and individual . use is quite as unreasonable as it would be if the majority were reversed and could insist on the minority partaking of alcoholic liquors. Indeed, no movement of late years— prevalent religious bigotry—has dsns more to generate bad feeling, social discord, envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableress among all classes of the community than this prohibition movement. "What would be thought of the advocates of freedom and *■ justice if, at a general election, they were to make license to., sell alcoholic liquor the sole plank in their political platform ? Asa rule, they vote for their party candidate, irrespective of Jbis moral, social or religious views, any of which may be —and frequently are— in direct opposition to those of the majority of his political supporters. Questions as to whether alcoholic liquor should be sold on the -i present open bar system, the advisableness of abolishing the bar altogether, the substitution of the restaurant system, etc., are fair and reasonable propositions to submit to a referendum of the people; but to encroach on the morally inalienable right of every individual to have wine or beer in his house is simply a violation of personal libertv, and ought to he as much o'ltside the function of Parliamentary - legislation is the establishment of a State re!ilion. ,Tottn W. Warren, Hamilton, December 22.