Fair Play INTERVIEWS.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 14, 3 February 1894, Page 4

Fair Play INTERVIEWS.

Mr. F. J. Quinn.

We publish in this issue the portrait of Mr. F. J. Quinn, the official representative of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers Association. With a view to getting his views on the Prohibition question our representative in Christchurch called on Mr. Quinn, and the following conversation took place:— “ Good morning, Mr. Fair Play, I see punctuality is one of your virtues; now what is it you want ?” “ Well, as you are the official representative of the Licensed Victualler's of Canterbury, I should like to get your opinion on the Prohibition question.”

“ I am, as you rightly observe, the official representative of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association so far as the clerical work is concerned, but I have no authority to voice the opinions of the Association on this (drink) question, so you will understand that although I may give expression to sentiments uttered by others, I alone will be held responsible for anything that you may publish.” “ Exactly, Mr. Quinn.” “ Well, then, I am opposed to Prohibition ; I think instinotively, because I am naturally a lover of liberty, and perforce an enemy of tyranny. There is no doubt in my mind that with very few exceptions the leaders of the Prohibition movement have the spirit even though they lack the power of the tyrant, and I have always regarded a tyrant whether in spirit or in reality as a being with an unbalanced mind.”

Do you mean to say, Mr. Quinn, that you look upon a person who believes in and advocates Prohibition as one with an unbalanced mind.” “Not necessarily so, but I do mean to say that the continual concentration of thought on one topic disturbs the balance of the mind. Take the so-called leaders of the Prohibition movement and you will find, apart from that question, they are as a rule perfect non-entities.”

“ You are, of course, aware they claim to be actuated by a love of liberty, and a desire to work in the interests of the working classes ?”

“ Your Prohibitionist is nothing without a string of popular phrases, and just now one of the most popular is, ‘in the interest of the working classes.’ What does experience teach us ? —and none know it better than the workers —why, that things have been done under the plea of ‘ in the interests of the working classes’that have turned out wholly to the increase of the pleasure of the rich and of the misery and wants of the poor, and in my humble opinion that is a state of affairs that Prohibition would have a tendency to increase. As for being actuated by ‘ a love of liberty,’ why, is not the principle of individual right's the bulwark .of liberty ? True, some may not make the best use of those rights; even so, it is better to leave responsible beings free than to destroy their responsibility by taking away their freedom. Constraint is the natural parent of resistance. It has always been the case with human beings and always will be; where one side is tyrannical, the other is refractory.’' “ What do you think of the statement of the Prohibitionist

chat drunkenness is the chief cause of crime ?”

“ I am afraid that in some cases this statement is made by some of the Prohibition leaders knowing they are wilfully perverting facts; in most cases the statement is the result of the innocent confusion of cause and effects. Mr. W. W. Collins very ably pointed out in a recent lecture, that alcoholic stimulation merely removes prudence in the criminal and thus leads to the detection of his crime. There is no doubt of it that intoxication brings out true character without restraint or disguise. I myself have seen quarrelsome men meet and drink together and finish up with fighting ; on the other hand, I have seen men of opposite dispositions drink together and show profuse friendliness and generosity, one towards the other, and finally finish up by becoming most absurdly affectionate. Is it not a wellknown fact also, that at a banquet a man who would give a pound towards building a church or a charitable institution, will, after several toasts have been drunk, give five or ten for the same purpose?” “ You appear, Mr. Quinn, to be making a case in favour of drunkenness ?”

“ No! No 1 That is a false charge that is hurled by the Prohibitionists against those who difier from them. We don’t oppose the abolition of drunkenness, we oppose the abolition of drink by a restrictive state measure. At the same time I believe myself that the only way to get rid of the drunkard is pointed out in the Darwinian theory of the ‘ survival of the fittest.’ All who are fit- to survive as members of a civilised community (if left free and unfettered) will by an act of impulse avoid intemperance; while those who cannot share the moral and intellectual refinements of advancing civilisation by practising that general restraint it demands of the individual, will be gradually sifted out by natural selection (I might say natural alcoholic selection). This no doubt, will be looked upon as a hard, cruel doctrine, and there is no doubt the ‘ happy despatch ’ of the drunkard very often involves much misery to others who are not drunkards. Still this is one of nature’s inexorable laws and we see it operating in other directions continually.”

“ I am afraid, Mr. Quinn, the majority of the people don’t view this question on the broad grounds you lay down ?” “ Yes, I think the majority do; and I also think the more intelligent portion of the minority who are now with the Pro* hibitionists are beginning to View matters in the same light, and are coming over to our side, and that gradually this movement will fizzle out.”

“Why do you think the Prohibition party are in the minority, and that the movement will ‘ fizzle’ out ?” “ The results of last election plainly show that they are in the minority; and, I believe the movement will ‘ fizzle ’ out because experience teaches us that it is the fate of all 1 fads.’ We had a proof of that not long ago. We had a scheme propounded that was to ameliorate the condition of the masses and banish all the social ills that we suffer from (exactly what the Prohibitionists claim their scheme will do, and it is as well to bear in mind it is only quack medicines that will cure all diseases), well, General Booth took a trip round the world and brought his ‘ fad ’ to its zenith, and the natural result was it * fizzled ’ out. Just what will happen to the Prohibition ( fad.’ “You say the results of the last, elections show the Prohibitionists are in the minority. Did you not see that Sir Bober t

Stout and others claim that the majority of the present M.H.R.’s are on their side as regards the drink question ?” “ Yes, I have seen where they claim to have 42 members of the House on their side, the 42 names were also published; well, I have had conversations with several of the members whose names appear on the list, and they tell me that they have not the slightest intention of following Sir Robert Stout on the drink question, and even if the teetotal party could claim a majority of members in the House it would not follow that they had the majority of the people in their way of thinking. I ust 1 totted ’ up the figures as they appeared in the Press and I find that—allowing them the 42 members they claim —the teetotal party were successful in securing 61,293 votes while their opponents secured 80,320, or a majority of 13,027 votes. Now, Sir Robert Stout and those who believe with him have all along said ‘ trust the people, their voice must be supreme on this question.’ Well, you see, Mr. Fair Play, the people have spoken and declared against Prohibition and the Direct Veto, and Sir Robert Stout and those who think with him on this question must, as honourable men, let the matter rest until the people have another opportunity at a general election of saying they are desirous of a change. And now, Mr. Fair Play, permit me to wish your paper every success. While you keep it up to its present standard I believe it will reach hands that neither a Prohibitionist nor Licensed Victualler’s paper would reach. If so, and we can get both sides of the question published on all subjects with equal fairness, its strength and power will increase as the people more fully recognise the principles by which it is guided.”