CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13738, 31 October 1908, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

IHE CASE OF JD.T S. To the Editor of the Timaru Herald."' Sir, —I notice in this morning's " Herald"' a letter from the Rev. T. Stmson, which contains, what eems to me, a direct attack on the publicans of ,Timarn. Mr Stinson says the Timaru hotelkeepers supplied a man with drink until his money n-is all gone, and then turned him'out. Xow 1 wonder if Mr Stinson troubled: himself to lind out who&e fault it- was this man spent his money in drink. It- was, kis own money, presumably he earned it himself, and I daresay he could please himself what he did with it. I am sure no publican asked him to come and spend it in drink. Yet, to read tome of the let - tei«. and some of die prohibition columns in the paper, one would think the hotelkeepers literally forced people iiitp their houses, gave them drink, and demanded their money in return. I daresay Mr Stinson has never stayed at an hotel; probably he would be- shocked at the idea, but I think if he did. he might change his opinion of the landlords. He wouid find that very often, instead of being turned out "to be picked up by the police/' when all his money was spent, the publicans have kept men there, sometimes, for weeks at. a time, without any remuneration whatever.) I bav-e known many such wines, but if the men had previously spent their money in drink they did not blame anyone else for it. knowing they had only pleased them<relves. Xow. as regards no license, Ido not see why we should deprive our friend? of their right to go to a licensed house and obtain a drink when they need one, because a few people always have more than is good for them. There would be jrst as much sense in tending us all to an I asylum because there are a few people who ara mentally deficient. When the voting day comes round I hope electors will think of this side of the question, and think seriously over the matter before signinj: away their fellow-citizens' rights . and freedom.—l am, etc., ELECTOR. Cliurch street, Timaru. October 23th.