THE LIQUOR TRADE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11586, 29 July 1899, Page 3

THE LIQUOR TRADE.

TO THE EDITBR.

Sir,— Mr Paul, the Taranaki brewer, through the medium of your paper, his publicly asked the qusstion, "In my various public capacities can any dereliction of duty be alleged against me" ; Bgain, he asks, ha 3be 6ver failed in any of his duties as a man and a citizen, can any allegations be made against him in respect of Hi business relations, against his commercial honour, or bis si at us in trade. I am afraid history will show tbe record is not so clean as the brewer claims it to be. Why did he not go a little further and exclaim, "Lord, I thank thee I am not as other men." ''J he brewer's commercial status has improved wonderfully since I first knew bier, 35 years ago, for which he must thank the principal vice of the age — diink. The brewer has successfully accumulated a quantity of material wealth pby his trade, which is inimical to the best interests of his fellow-men. His brews may be a3 genuine as most brewers' products are, their principal tendency being to decimate the people through the medium of the trade by its almost unrestricted sale, and the only cure fur the evil h for an intelligent people to sweep it into tbe bosom of destruction. Lat the closing scenes of the 19th century witness its overthrow by voting at the next election No Licens9. It will ba the means of saving our rising generation from many a cup of bitter sorrow, by driving the destroying angel from our midst. This is the class of traders who accumulate riches by rilling our lunatic ssylums, sending others to the gaols and the gallows, or else slink away into a suicide's grave. This death-dealing brew, through the agency of its shambles, slays men and women by thousands, sending them to destruction wholesale. Electors let the 20th century dawn on a free people in this district ; no longer under the shackles of King Alcohol. We then f-hill be able to raise a psein of praise tbat humanity has broken one more fetter I ,' his reached another goal upward toWaris infkite development, while our enslavers have hung their harp on a willow; and wailing, - How are the mighty fallen. What about tbe status in trade then, when ths reign of alcohol is overthrown ?. —I am, &c, A Voice from the People,