LIQUOR’S SELF-REFORM?

Southland Times, Issue 18964, 11 June 1923, Page 2

LIQUOR’S SELF-REFORM?

(To the Editor). Sir, —Would you kindly oblige by giving hospitality to the following. W’e have been accustomed to hear the old proverb that “There is Nothing New Under the Sun.” But, of course, there are exceptions to every rule. In your pages lately you gave us a forecast of a notable combine composed of four members of the Auckland Anglican Synod; of certain clubs; the Moderate League; and of the Brewers. And, if they can get the Dominion to become a leading shareholder, and perhaps manager also, the scheme is likely to be a flourishing concern. Then we must not forget that these new philanthropists assure us that they keep distinctly in view that this measure, if anything, is to reform the liquor trade, and to usher in an ideal state of things. Besides, due emphasis is laid on the fact that jt is to be a State co-operative movement, involving os all in the business as wholesale and retail dealers in the beer and whisky trade. Then, to give this big job an air of completeness we are informed how, when, and where shares can be bought up; so that, from the Bluff to the North Cape every citizen can be making money. And, should the drinking capacity of the nation develop in the ordinary way, then, of course, the more money. It is not difficult to see through this when it is remembered that the supervision will be close, the management will be able, and its success triumphant, as it is now to be respectable, and run for all it is worth. I am sure every well-wisher of his country will be very grateful that this remarkable combine has got their eyes opened to see, and their feelings moved to acknowledge, at last, that the Trade needs reforming. That is something at any rate. Many people, however, will not be surprised at the conclusion arrived at, but they will rather wonder that it took them such a long time to get there. And this is the sequel: The Trade is to go on; strong drink will be imbibed as hitherto; but drunkenness will disappear. This is a hard saying; because if history tells anything, it declares as a dead certainty that wherever the liquor trade has existed there has always been drunkenness, family ruin, crime and a hundred other evils. The late Sir W. Robertson Nicol said not so long ago in the British Weekly that these evils were produced by the traffic in strong drink with all the certainty of a mathematical law. There is another thing which puzzles and troubles plain folk. One powerful factor, as well as a physiological truth, is the habitforming capacity of liquor to create a desire for itself. We cannot shut our eyes to the depressing fact that in this young land liquor produces every year well nigh 1000 first offenders whose names get on the police books. The combine has forgotten to tell us how in future years liquor will cease to form this habit and how it will cease to make drunkards under the new order of things. For truth is the same, human nature is the same and the inducements are the same. It would certainly be interesting to hear from these modern reformers how drink would act differently from what it has done in the long roll of centuries, and how it would cease to do evil and learn to do good. I am, itc.— EPSILON.