PROHIBITION CONDEMNED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 10 November 1910, Page 21

PROHIBITION CONDEMNED.

The Dean of Christie in a speech on Temperance legislation, said: —“I do think we can make a nation sober by law, and I am sure we will never make a man sober by law, and again I wish every Bishop and every parson would try to look at both sides of the question. They must not play with it, and they must not ruin a great number of men seeking their living in the trade, the only result would be to substitute a different class of house of entertainment, which would be far less under control, and far worse to reach by the arm of the law, than the public-house.

I have never been able to convince myself that what we call total abstinence is essential to morality. The moderate and occasional use of alcoholic liquors is not to be condemned, it is virtually impossible to enforce a total abstinence law in a large community or State. The attempt to enforce such a law must consequently lead to one of the worst things, illegality or hypocrisy—possibly both. — Cardinal Gibbons.