DRUNKENNESS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4537, 8 November 1882, Page 3

DRUNKENNESS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

TO TKI SPIXOB 07 THE BTAB. PlB, — Temperance writers and temperance speakers are continually being accused of using intemperate expressions when writing or speaking on any of the multifarious aspects of the gnat temperance question. " Intemperate temperance " is uu expression whioh appears to find favour with those people whose cause is bad and incapable of being justified. It is a very convenient way of silenoing a man whose arguments may be incontrovertible to say to him: — "My dear fellow, you use such intomperate language, that really it would le infra dig for me to attempt to reply to you." Now, sir, I have been led into this train of thought in consequence of noticing a letter in this evening's issue signed "Oh. Stokell." This individual displays such an excess of what I might fairly term "intemperate inebriation" in hie brief epiitlc, that few would blame me were I to ignore his production entirely. Bueh words as " mislead," " ignorance," "neglect," "utterly incompetent," etc., are hardly neceseary wh«n a man simply wants to ask a question. It looks as if the writer were possessed of a large amount of strong personal feeling againit me, because I took the trouble to searoh the newspaper files, in order to see if drunkenness were increasing or diminishing. I don't know "Oh. Stokell " from Adam ; but if any lady or gentleman would liko to know the reason why I did not give the hours at which tho 333 " drunks " were arrested, it is became the publication of the exact time would have taken up more space in the paper than was neceepary ; and besides, such a etaloment would be almost entirely superfluous. I may state, however, thr.t members of the police fores inform mo that there is inori drunkenness during the la'© hours of thu night than was tho c»ie previous to the midnight extension. This, of course, is only natural. In Lyttelton the hotels are closed at ten o'clock, and tho result is a decrease in tho number of arrests for drunkenness ; h»re ia Ohrisfchurch we nro more civilised. We have midnight closing; the consequenco being an increase of drunkenness. But, eir, it ia impossible to convince everyone of the real facts of the case. Though ono were to rise from the dead, wo should Hod a percentage in the community ready to aseer' that dissolution had never taken place. What wo have to consider is this : Here wo nra brought face to face with an alarming increase of drunkenness. Can " Oh. Stockell," or any of your numerous readers explain awuy the fact ? — I am, &c , 0. M. GRAY. Nov. 7.