TEMPERANCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14355, 27 October 1908, Page 2

TEMPERANCE.

Sir,—l have been reading with interest Hie little discussion between the Prohibition ami License parties,'awl .now that tho arguments have jjiEen put forward by both eidea t.hore is.only ono conclusion that eon possibly be ;arrived.at. I may say that I am not a prohibitionist, or:rather up to the present time 1 ! was not,'and'l am not. yet a teetotaller, _bnt seeing that. both parties) are aiming at'the same end, with tho ono set purpose to be realised—awl that, a con. dition of temperance—it seems to me that they should eompromieo. Tho aim of the Prohibition party is temperance, and that of the License party true temperance—no material difference, is there? Well, how would it do, if the forthcoming election fails to bring about enforced temperance, to consider the advisability of tho two parlies conferring on this question, with tho object of enabling tho brewers and publicans- to create and maintain a fund out of which assistance .may be granted to thceo families whose'homes are in want, of funds and comforts throug-.li l.ho bread-winner's inability to overcome tho .temptation to spend his wages in drink? Tho very few shillings that many spend with their friends at tho bar, although apparently only a small amount daily, are sufficient to deny those at homo some comforts which might easily be substituted for tho drink which gives no good results. (If this the Lieenso party ia aware because- it preaches temper-a-iiee. It muet bo a soi-ions matter indeed when intemperance \ m leached such a stage that the publicans' have found it necessary ,to draw attention to the fact, and arc in their own way trying to educate their customers awl others in the advancement of tho temperanoo cause. Personally, I. am indifferent/as to tho result of tlie local' option vote, but will gladly f orgo any pleasure I derive from an occasional drink with a -friend if by so doing I know that many will enjoy comforts hitherto denied them and happiness which had long since ceased to exist will k restored.—l am, .etc., ' Dunedin, October 22. .- Paradox.