NO-LICENSE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2344, 10 November 1908, Page 5

NO-LICENSE

[To the Editor.]

Sir, —I would ask the Rev. Air. Grant to' kindly publish a copy of the wire he sent to the Rev. All*. Finlay, and I will then reply to the latter’s denial. —I am, etc., AV. DOUGLAS LYSNAR.

- [To Tim Editor.] Sir,—l have read Air Barry’s letter and fail to see that'my statement of \t fact constitutes abuse, for he himself fully confirms the fact.l may say that this is not the only attempt at bribery, for it is common knowledge that this sort of thing is a prominent feature of liquor influence, and if Air Barry considers the general public so dense as not to sec through the trick then the insult to their intelligence is his -and not mine. Take the position as presented by the liquor interests and what is it? A series of cunning tricks played by them to bluff the jjeople into voting continuance of their business, a business that has proved again and again- 'antagonistic to the public weal. It is not the accommodation we aim at or wish to ston, but the fruitful source of all the‘trouble—the iiquor bar. Take any leaflet or publication the liquor interests have circulated during this campaign, and what will we find?—misstatements and untruths, and defamatory libels, statements with no creditable backing, and jet these are the things put forward for our acceptance, and the whom attitude is an insult to our general intelligence, because they -attempt to shoulder* upon other tilings which they themselves propogate. The position was stated in my previous letter. The liquor trade begets a bad system and it is this we denounce — a system with scarcely a clean plank in hep platform, a system denounced bv judges, juries and other, to oe an enemy to social good—and in dealing with the trivialities of Air. Barry s letter wo are apt to lose sight of an important fact, namely, that the liquor has never proved to be anything better than it is said to be, and it is for this the people are to decide whether they will further tolerate it. Mr .Barry must remember that this is quite a feature apart from elective representative for the one is to legislate and the other to be legislated upon. It is the duty of the Government to make it as easy as possible to do right and difficult to do wrong, and it is the wrong we seek to right so that the road up to manhood and honor should be as smooth ax-possible and not covered with pitfalls. Only because the, liquor business is what it is—what it has made itself and nothing more—and for this and their own safety and well-being the people are to vote it out. Air. Barry is fishing for a sympathy that he is not inclined to concede.to others. Does the past history of the liquor business recommend it as a practical philanthrophie institution? -As the liquor man shingles bis house does not 'the shingles iiy off the house of his customers r And to suggest prolonging a business that is destroying the intelligence of the people and subordinating man's free will smells too much like selfishness. The business man lias sufficient common sense to sec the difference between his own and the liquor business. Opposition may come in and compete with him from c-verv quarter, and he has to bear it, but the liquor interests enjoy a monopoly and make such bad use of it that it is diametrically opposed to the public good, and it is far trom democratic that any man should grow lat to tlie detriment of some one else ; that a district should be distressed to pander to the private gain of a few. The suggestion oi the Trades and Labor Council is a practical one—vote no-license and eliminate private gain and then we shall have a better opportunity of dealing with the liquor question on its merits. Air. Barry says “I would ask the mothers of Gisborne whether they would not sooner have their sons drink openly than commit the secret sin.” What does Air. Barry mean? In substance he says, give your sons every facility io sin because they are irreclaimable and will sin. I must thank-Air. Barry ior the quotations from my v letters. They still stand good and carry refutation with them.—l am etc.. ‘•FAIR PLAY.” Gisborne,' November 7. [To the Editor.] (Sir,—“Citizen” in his letter of Saturday says he likes to see a great question dealt with on broad lines — pro and con. As" one with a similar desire, please forgive me. Air. Citizen, if I make a suggestion. After you have done as you suggest — weighed the good and evils of License —try this. Weigh the evils of Nulicenso against the evils of License. After considerable experience of"Nolicense and prohibition (rather more stringent th in No-license by the way) districts, I tried the weighing business. Aly experience Was this; The evils of No-license outweigh those of License every time. 1 used to advocate NoAicense until I had a taste of it, but I won’t do it again unless 1 have a grudge against humanity. AA’hen I get tint I'll go into the Noliccnsc' advocating business all I know. As regards your P.S., Air. Citizen, where can I find accommodation in an unlicensed house equivalent both in price and quality to what I can get in u licensed house I’d Like to know where it is. I’ve moved about this little planet some, but haven’t found such a place yet.—l am, etc., “AVANDERER.”