MR COLLINS' LECTURE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3031, 21 July 1893, Page 2

MR COLLINS' LECTURE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l attended the Oddfellows' Hall and listened with great pleasure to the splendid lecture by Mr W. W. Collins, which was without doubt a real treat a? far as oratorieU display went. I was, however, rather surprised and disappointed that the lecturer did not bring out more of the subject on which fie was advertised to lecture, viz—what is known as the " Direct Veto Question," or more correctly speaking the "Principle of Local Option." Evidently, Mr Collins' great point was to prove that drunken* ness was the outcome of poverty, and not, as is commonly thought and taught the cause of poverty. Mr Collins sought to prove (his by statistics compiled at Home. Why did he not take Dew Zealand figures and retun I to tl%* how, in this land, where real pauperism is comparatively, or altogether unknown, our tremendous drink bill (of aver two millions sterling) is the outcome of pauperism and want ? I take it the statistics would not bear 'ut his contention with regard to our own land. Mr Collins also said in regard to total prohibition, that, supposing the majority were in favour of it, they had no right to dictate to the minority, and that if the majority wanted to have prohibition, they could scop drinking and let the minority do their drinking. : Now 13 this not a rather ridiculjus statement to make to an audience fciich as Mr Collins had on Tuesday night. How are our affairs managed, our legislators elected, and our laws made and enforced 1 is it not by the rr,: -j rity of the electors, and this is the only '>y the temperance party ask for to dcaj with the liquor traffic. In all political questions the minority has to aljle by the decision of the majority, if in e?eiy other case, why ndt !»tMs mHtft of tha liquor law* ? Mr Collins acknowledges that a gFSafc deal of crime and poverty is traueable directiy tp the drin|f traffic, and yet he proposes that the majority, beipg in favor of prohibition shall sit dowa quietlyand meejriy,« and pay the piper for the results of the drinking habits of the minority, in the< shape of increased expenditure on jails, lunitic asylums, charitable aid grants, etc. This mighb be called legislation, but it is hardly the kind to be approved of by a majority of Britishers ; it is certainly not like Liberal government and it would certainly not be liberty. Ho Sir, if the majority are ever in favor of the traffic going, it will have 11 g<\ and the minority, as in every other case will have to whistle.—l am, etc.,