AS OTHERS SEE US.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 786, 30 March 1905, Page 23

AS OTHERS SEE US.

In his recent trip through New Zealand, Mr B. Schirmer, Vice-President of the Loew Supply and Manufacturing Co., America, so he informs a Melbourne trade journal, found the brewers worried and agitated, over the prospects of licenses in the coming elections, which will be held in November, 1905. The women’s franchise will be uncommonly exercised this time, and they are being strongly appealed to by fanatical deciaimers of beverages, in which they also slightly threaten to include tea and coffee, but are really only actively denouncing alcoholic refreshments. Mr Schirmer reports that n many of the larger cities a close call has been had for licensees in the past elections, which is looked upon as presaging defeat this time. Possibly a split, he says, could be organised iii the rants of the intolerant opponents of licensees by starting schisms in the ranks of the leaders, and, above all, using sectarianism as the lever. For, although they may 7 stand united against the “decent fellow” who is conducting, a proper hotel, yet they will divide at once on the question of method of salvation, which, after all, must be of greater importance to them, as the majority do make their salt by saving souls in their peculiar way, and depend on that, in part, for their bread and butter. Because they 7 are unable to attract the greater number of men to the churches, they needs attack another practice of mankind to create interest in themselves and their pulpits, for which reason they decry 7 that which seems most vulnerale in society. It is very 7 noticeable, says Mr Schirmer, in English races that they hold the woman aloof from their indulgences in “vivants of the moods” ; this creates a certain opposition in the milder sex, which is easily removed by having them join in the entertainments. Such a unison of the habits of both sexes, he adds, removes the abuses which at times follow, and assures the woman that the evil is more in the imagination than in' fact. At the same time it acts as a check on the man ; for, in truth, he notes that a proper amount of exhilarant adds zest and snap to life, while the abuse makes him a hateful object in the eyes of those he loves the most, and their presence will restrain him in nearly every instance. But while an Englishman, adds Mr Schirmer, will “poohoo” atty woman but a barmaid being in the “pub,” and will stare a woman out of countenance if she even but ventures into the bar, yet he expects womankind to respect his habits and never olbiject, even if he gives her the franchise to vote as his equal on questions of the day. Wherever women are as readily admitted, and are as highly 7 respected as before, to the bars and localities for the distribution of spirituous invigorators, the prejudice found here does not exist in their hearts and minds. As an example, savs Mr Schirmer, who would object to. refreshments as served in many of the firstclass restaurants and tea-rooms of Melbourne, or Sydney, or Auckland ? Lack of tolerance is caused by abuse, and intolerance is just as inevitably followed by greater liberties.