The Liquor Traffic.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8280, 23 October 1905, Page 6

The Liquor Traffic.

[to the editor, i

Sir,—-I have been much interested in reading your review on a pamphlet on the above subject, in your issue of Tuesday last, and was glad to know that you could say "No" to both queries—ls the liquor traffic beneficial to the individual or profitable to the State ? The question raised by you as to whether there may not be other traffics which are in the same category has set me thinking, and I am absolutely at a loss to find a parallel case. Can you suggest one 'i Now, Sir, with regard to the two methods named by you for dealing with harmful traffics—" mend " or " end " —you fail to see why the trade should not be " mended." Is it possible to conceive of such an amended state of the trade which would result in a benefit to the individual and profit to the State"' I would like your opinion on this point. AYhy, Sir, the licensing laws are being everlastingly tinkered with and amended, and broken and mended, and with what result ? AYhy, according to your own showing, the youths of your town are allowed to get drunk and reel about the streets, and I don't think Masterton is worse than other towns in the Colony. You ask does any one try to save the lads who are falling down the ladder, rung by rung ? I answer "Yes." Every voter who strikes out the top line is doing that same thing, and I say more power to them. Your remedy of " mending " has been a dismal failure all along the line. Let us try the other remedy which you suggest. —I am, etc.,

Tnos. Bayuss.

Our remedy of " mending" has not been tried. It does not rest so much upon legislative tinkering as upon an honest administration of the law by the Government.—Ed. AY.D.T.]