LICENSING REFORM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19197, 13 June 1924, Page 3

LICENSING REFORM.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —ln letters in your issue this morning by Messrs M. 11. Sedcion and A. Irwin, both support the continuance of the traffic in intoxicating liquors. Neither of them, however, gives any reason at all for such support of its continuance, neither do they seek to show how the manifold evils arising from the traffic may be reduced or eradicated. _ « Will Mr Irwin tell us how he makes his support of the licensed traffic in alcoliol square with the splendid idealistic quotation which he gave: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and love thy neighbour as thyself?” Methinks ho will find it much easier to mix oil and water, blend sugar and salt, and merge heaven and hell. Just one illustration. Recently an address was given in London at a medical congress on the unfit young people of Britain, and it. was stated that there are at the present time in the United Kingdom over one million children so defective in body and mind and that they will never be able to take any advantage or benefit from the Government educational institutions, and that of these over 600,000, or 60 per cent., were the direct and indirect results of alcoholic drink on the part of the parents. Can Mr Irwin visualise what that immense number of upgrowing human unfits mean? On his own argument, can he show where Jesus Christ supported the licensed sale of alcoholic drinks—beer, whisky, rum, gin, and brandy, or wine?— or legitimised His followers’ rights, to make money out of the drunkenness and degeneration of their fellowrnen?—l am, etc.. New Zealander. June 12.