IS POVERTY CAUSED BY DRINK?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12472, 1 October 1902, Page 7

IS POVERTY CAUSED BY DRINK?

TO THK EDITOB. Sir,—l am afraid " Genuine Rationalist" has lost his temper, the plain'truth's in my lust having been too much for him. He pretends to ignore those eminent authorities, Eowntreo and Slierwell and Mr BooUi. who state that from 13 to 11 per cent, of the poverty in that very poorest homo of''intemperance, (lie. East End of I,omlon, was attributable to drink and ' fchriffclessness, the latter being coupled with the former, and thus no doubt increasing rli-o osiimafce and making drink look all the worse. " G.K.'s" instances of I and 1) each, saving 10s .per week out of drink exper.ditiiie for £0 years continuously and putting all iwb into the bank at interest are so purely imaginary thai- your space".should not be ocoupied in refuting such nonaens'e. Misers might act as he suggests, reason&Ule tempclato people would find other uses for the mtuiey, and enjoy it. Sir 'Erasmus Wilaon (formerly president of the Royal College of Surgeons), .!):• Mortimer Granville (physician to the preseat King, when ho was Prince of Wales), and other eminent authorities, state that insanity, cancer, and other norvous diseases are caused principally by toetolalism, excessive fcwi-drinkiiig, and. religious mania, and not by the tenaperaie use of alcoholic, liquors, which rather tend.? to prevent such disorders. As regards alcoholic insanity, there is uo authenticated case of y, thoroughly sound and mentally healthy person having beeoiiie insane tlu<ou?h the use of ordinary alcoholic liquors. The greatest proportion of cranks is. without doubt to be found among total abstainers, who seldom attain to any _ eminence professionally, financially, or scientifically, but only emotionally, criminally, or immorally. This view iii borne out by the lives and antecedents of notorious criminals, such as fraudulent bankers, murderers, and burglars, and also -of some itinerant adventurers posing aa prohibition and religious lecturers.—l am, etc., Rational