JUVENILE DRUNKENNESS IN DUNEDIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14245, 20 June 1908, Page 12

JUVENILE DRUNKENNESS IN DUNEDIN.

Sik,—l dcsiro to substantiate Sister Annie's statement which appeared in your local columns of the other day. First, of all,. I am not financially interested one iota on either side of the drink question, nor, personally will it matter a little bit which way the cat jumps. However, from the moral aspect of the question 1 mast, and will, contend that the Dunedin youths are now -as drufiken as those of any portion o{ the Homeland or of any otlier part of the world I have over visited. This fact is well known to every Dunedin citizen who has occasion to be o(it between the. hours of 10 and 11 on Saturday nights. 11 is quite a common occurrence to sec line young fellows, well dressed,- reeling alwnt our streets about Hurt time. If tho other cities of this laud aro similarly afflicted by youthful drunkenness it certainly prc-oages a very evil future for this young nation. Now," it is utter folly to compare the congested condition of the pooplo of the cities in the Homeland with the small—very small—cities of this young nation. The population of tho whole of New Zealand would'only make up,one city at Home or in America. Considering that wo are but a young nation, the youthful drunkenness .of" Dtmedin unfortunately exceeds that of any Home city—that is, in proportion "to tho populatioh. 1 can state on good authority that young men sat up recently until 2 a.m. on Sunday in a leading Dunedin hotel playing at "a shilling in" for drinks. This being so,. how lire the oilier hotels conducted? It is amazing that Inspector O'Brien docs not know anything about this. While J respeit Mr G. L. Donniston and the police authorities, I, am of opinion that I would be perfectly justified in expecting slight inexactitudes in regard to official figures—perhaps ,a clerical error. I would like to wk Inspector' O'Brien, Arc the brothels of Duiiedin increasing or decreasing in number? Is it not a shame to this city of churches and open-air preaching that 'there are such in our miilst? Is it not a fact that the beer shop in all places is the greatest auxiliary to tho .brothel ? Now, the question arises in the mind of every parent, How long shall this state, of affairs exist? Is it not a deplorable fact, that many fine families have gone to wreck, and ruin through tho trade wdio otherwise might have !>eon useful members of society? As alcohol is not a food, but a poison, its public sale lo young hoys or old men can never be conducive for good. The people outside the trade are fully alive to this fact all over tho world, so that the pnblio sale of alcohol as a beverage had its day in the dark ages. As people become more educated to its social evil influences and its disastrous effects on ■the human body drink must certainly go. The proprietors of the trade in tho Homeland and elsewhere are proparing for the inevitable crisis. 'Why doubt Sister Annie's statement? ! Tho trade would do well to prepare for coming events, as this is a question which appeals to every, home in tho land, and the issue of which determines the happiness or utter misery of our dearest and nearest. There is not, and never will be, any argument in favour of drink. Woll does every honest heart feel aud know this. Wo must act according to the promptings of God's spirit—that i 6 the noblest impulse of the soul.—l am, etc., , The Father of a Famii.t.