THE LICENSING ISSUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19952, 20 November 1926, Page 22

THE LICENSING ISSUE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —lt is a singular fact, that while there exists in our midst a traffic in human lives and happiness, an iniquitous blot on our boasted civilisation, a thing utterly foreign to our (and yourl daily protestations of regard for fairness, honesty and justice; you are silent, about this thing and reserve your condemnation and sarcasm for a body which, whatever its methods or success, is doing infinitely more than any other body to rid our Dominion of the liquor traffic. Evils and abuse should be attacked only in reference to and in their order of importance. To make a great disnlay of the well-meaning efforts of an unselfish body of reformers who have the strength of character and honesty to declare themselves against the liquor traffic is putting the cart before the horse wilh a vengeance. You display an ignorance of the Alliance in vour editorial when von refer to Mr W. D. Hunt as the president of that body. Mr C. Todd, of this city, who is at present touring the United States, is president of the AH'Vinco. Mr AV. D. Hunt’s nersonal opinion regarding State prohibition as a necessary fead to National prohibition may be and probably is. quite correct, but in giving Prominence to it vou overlook, as perhaps Mr Hunt did abo, that before probibition became national in America 36 out of the 40 States already bad prohibition by their own consent. This, T should think, is the policy of State “bonedryness” put into operation to an extent acceptable to anvone inclining to embrace that method of procedure. Tf. however, that is oof enoimb, perhaps the fact that 46 out of the 4« States of America ratified in record time in record strength and in yeeo r d number the Prabl'p't’en .Amonrlocnt will serve to PlsoeT ans- a° to the car'v’ng of State-wide pivff’d-nt’on as authority for national in America. T am. etc., t T.Tr,ER T T. ’Novemi-'er 17. [Mr W. H. Hunt is one of the vicepresidents cf fl-ie New Tleala,-rl Alliance. Ed. 0.D.Tl „