GIRLS AND LIQUOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 12

GIRLS AND LIQUOR.

Sir, —The Rev. Lionel Fletcher tolls ns about bad men who carry hip flasks to cabarets and administer lo young ladies draughts of three-parts whisky and one part wine, the ladies innoctntiy drinking it and believing it to bo only wine. Truly a story of treachery and villainy if it were true, hut what are tho facts? It is impossible for anybody but a seasoned toper to swallow such a strong mixture without considerable gasping, spluttering and burning of the throat, and without knowing that if, could not possibly be wine only. It is a pity the reverend gentleman cannot realise that making wild and exaggerated statements only serves to antagonise thinking people', and does not assist (ho cause of temperance in any way- J UPITER.

Sir, —Wo British arc tho world's queerest people, and most queer of our qucerncss is our habit of finding nothing good in ourselves. If it is not gambling, it is killjoying, and so the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher goes, on until he attacks modern youth. His methods can only accomplish one thing, and that is to raise Mr. Fletcher from a prohibitionist to an advance agent of the trade, s Mr. Fletcher as an ecclesiastic preaches that children should be led. If he would silently work and reason with some of these minorities whom he alleges to be hip-carriers, instead of making puff pedes! al speeches, exalting himself, as a prodigal, lie would do some good. Speeches such as that given in Whangarei are calculated to inspire innocents to imitate Air. Fletcher's naughty children. "Youth will have its way," in spite of Mr. Fletcher. "It is tho day of the young man and woman." "New blood is needed everywhere to pour fresh vitality into the views of a tired old world." Wo have been saying things of that kind for years past, since tho Great War. It is not an unnatural consoqueneo of that calamity that youth so prodigally sacrificed, turned resentfully upon tho elders who brought it. about, or at least failed to arrest it. Tho discretion rests with tho seniors. A father understands his son, a mother her daughter. That very successful person, tho modern girl, has accomplished miracles in the conversion of parents. Let Mr Fletcher understand that in spite of his interfering allegations against "reckless youth," that the rising generation is just, as ambitious and intellectual as their predecessors. It may bo harder for novices and tho aspirants to push their way upward when tho path is still blocked by these old veterans. But these pass at last, and wo need not suppose that tho vacant, places will not be filled. There is an immense amount of cleverness among younger men and women, and if some of it is rather "wild" and "vague" and "unformed," it. will in due course "find itself" and sol tic down and become recognised and esteemed. Take note, Mr. Fletcher, please. CAiirE Diem.