"PROHIBITION A BLUNDER."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15101, 25 March 1911, Page 4

"PROHIBITION A BLUNDER."

TO THE EDITOR. , Sir,—Although I am not to bo drawn into a newspaper controversy on the sub-' ject of prohibition, I cannot refuse to answer questions for information, such as tho:-® submitted by " D. from Ranfurly. (1) The words, "I am tho vino, the sap that is in 1110 will become in you the wine of lip," are not given by mo as a Scripture quotation, but as an explanatory paraphrase. I am surprised that anyone could regard the passage otherwise. (2) As to Gladstone's personal habits {See Morley's Life, vol. I, p. 617, two volume edition): " I am glad you were not scandalised about my laxity as to the publichouse. But. I expected from you this liberality. I really had 110 choice. How can I who drink good wine and bitter beer every day of my life, in a comfortable room and among friends, coolly stand up and advise bard-working fellow "creatures to take tho pledge?" There is somewhere another passage in which ho confesses that without wino lie oould not live un to the measure of his powers; but I cannot at present lay my hands 011 it. Perhaps some other may como to t.lio rescue. (3) The title of tho work referred to is " Drink, Temperance, and Legislation." by Arthur Shadwcll. M.A., M.D., Oxon. Longman, Green, and Co., 1902. I am glnd of the opportunity of calling attention to a book so solid and judicious. (1) The expression " A brutal assault on the feelings" is used by Stevenson in his essay " Across tho Plains." He is not referring to intemperance. It struck me as a happy expression for a certain method of arguing, not uncommon in regard to drink and other things as well—l 51m, etc., Wm. Salmond.