THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16798, 31 March 1919, Page 2

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

To the Editor- of the"-"Timarn Herald."

Sir, —It is almost past belief, nevertheless it is a fact, that some liquor people, whose names I can furnish, have given credence to the fool-sh suggestion of "Anti-Humbug" that "Veritas" is only "a dummy," and that I write the letters attributed to him for the purpose of getting in, some prohibition arguments in reply. Will you kindly inform your readers if this is so? If "Anti-Humbug" heard "Veritas" on the street he would not think* that he"is a "speechless dummy." Jf "Anti-Humbug" will give me his nanie and address I shall furnish him with the name and address of "Veritas," for - .: though, he has hidden his identity from the readers of the "Herald" he has not hidden it from his friends and acquaintances. If "Ant r -Humbug" will also look up the Christchnrch "Press" he will see that "Veritas" is sendiig to that journal the same piffle, or, as your correspondent puts it, the same "rotten arguments." "Anti-Humous" cannot conceive of a "real person" producing such arguments. Will he please tell us of any liquor advocate who has produced any better arguments in favour of the continuance of ".the trade." huve not appeared in your correspondence columns.

"Veritas" in his letter this morning is discr.se tly silent on several matt is. He does not attempt to explain how. it is that lie hns not seen six drunks in Timaru in six yea's. We thought it might be defective vision. But no! We remember that on one occasion in Christ church, in a small tea room, lie saw SCO women gesticulating wildly. Perhaps like the great Nelson lie has "a blind eye" and uses that eye when I he goes forth in Timaru and dees not want to see the drunks. At any rat 9 they are here, and may 1)3 seen daily, and will lie seen while the liars remain open. '"Veritas" still holds to the ■ idea that tea accounts for physical deterioration, and explains the rejects. | He ignores the fact that a committea, of exports, appointed by the' Imperial, Government to report on the causesof physical deterioration, sa'd nothing about tea, hut found that alcohol was "a most potent and deadly, agent' of, physical deterioration." But then,' "Veritas" with his contempt for science and scientific investigation knows better! "The Soldiers' Pocket-book for lueid Service," by Lord Wolseley is before infe as I write, and bhab great general decries spirits, while strongly advocating the use of tea. He describes hard campaigns "whera men had no spirits, but practically as much of tea as. they could drink; illness was, I may say, unknown amongst them." He refers to the trappers of British North America, to lou,r armies in Kaffraria. to the Indian Mutiny, to tho Jtgd River expedition, and to tho Soiidart Campaign, and shows clearly that men hare been far "Setter physicidly wlieii. denied spirits and given; iilcnty of. good tea. —I am, etc., v ; THOMAS STINSON. j Timaru, March- 28 j