PROFESSION AND PROHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9690, 19 June 1917, Page 8

PROFESSION AND PROHIBITION

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.” Sir,—Your correspondent “A. Fisher” goes to a lot of trouble to expose what he appears to consider Dr Newman’s double life; but ho is telling us nothing new. Nevertheless, we frequently pray for him, though once he was in a firm of wine and spirit merchants, and, in the meantime, we are glad to use him and others in our glorious campaign. Taka Mr Morison, K.C., for example: He belongs to the moderate-drinking Hass that caused our set-back last election, and many of our people have felt than we should not have such men on our platform, but I have always contended that we would bo justified in using tho powers of darkness themselves if we cau gain a point for prohibition by it. Let friends remember always thatours Is a campaign of progression. To-day we ask for early closing, to-morrow for prohibition, the-next day for the total abolition of horse-racing, and in course of time we hope to secure legislation for that Sabbath observance which will bring us truly to the state ot “righteousness which cxalteth a nation.” We know we cennot do it all at once, and if the “hot-heads” in tho movement would only realise the harm they are doing by their indiscretion and lack of tact, we would be closer to our goal to-day. “A. Fisher’s’’ letter looks to be deliberately framed to shake the confidence of us, the rank and file, in our leaders,, because they appear to have taken the enemy into our ranks, but we must remember that the soldiers ,in battle use tho bodies of the enemy dead to screen them from fire, and w© are only asked to do the same. For my part, I am content in the knowledge that the Rev. John Dawson and his able committee are conducting every move in this early-closing campaign, and 1 think none of us should quibble about the methods usedTrusting that you will give early publication to this letter in justice to Dr Newman and the movement.—l am, etc., TRUST THE ALLIANCE.