A SLANDER EXPOSED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3356, 24 October 1911, Page 3

A SLANDER EXPOSED.

ARE WE A SOBER PEOPLE?

SOME UNASSAILABLE FIGURES

To traduce one man is punishable, malign a nation, and you escape. Indeed if you are a prohibitionist you may‘libel the people of New Zealand by calling them “a drunken and besotted crowd” and be cheered to the echo by your fellow patriots, so-called. It matters not that the facts are all against the patriotic (?) prohibitionist. R lie is confronted with the facts, he simply says: “I do net care ioi the facts: I know what I am talking about,” and proceeds to denounce his countrymen in a waterspout of vituperation. It is matter for regret that so many are being led astray by these self-styled- reformers, who, by attempting to villify their neighbors-, hope-cuttle-fish-like, to escape themselves, and so it is necessary to show how far from the truth the observation is that the people of this Dominion are “a drunken and besotted crowd.” Look at the consumption of alcoholic beverages by the nations, and see where New Zealand stands. In a quinquennial return issued in July of this year —1911 —by the British Board of Trade office, the consumption }jer head is given as under: —

In some respects we are as bad as our neighbors among the nations, but notwithstanding what prohibitionists may tell you we stand as the smallest consumers of alcoholic beverages, and it is a gross, vulgar slander upon us for the prohibitionists to say we are “a drunkeni and besotted crowd.” New Zealanders practically lead the world in sobriety and good living, and the calm, moderate-minded man and woman wonders—“ Why all this pother 7 about prohibition and No-license: we do not need either of them!” Yet, because the Prohibitionists have chosen to- regard this country as inhabited by a “drunken and besotted” people, they are setting out to try and make us believe this ebullition of their prefervid imaginations. It is a sorry spectacle to see mien and women, otherwise reasonable, so intoxicated with prohibition as to be utterly irresponsible on the liquor question. ' Physiologists tell us that neurotic tendencies are alike pronounced in extremeists, be they drunkards or prohibitionists. However, the outstanding truth in all this is that New Zealand is, by comparison, a very sober country, and the figures quoted have not been compiled! by the licensed victuallersl,. but by the British Board ,of Trade, and therefore above suspicion of leaning to one side or other. Having regard to this fact, then, it is surely unnecessary to invoke the aid of prohibition and No-license. We are doing very well as, we are, and we will show the Prohibitionists that by striking out the bottom lines we are determined to maintain our freedom to continue to use alcoholic beverages, and withal live soberly. It is high time moderate men and women asserted 1 themselves and gave No-license and -prohibition their quietus.***

Gallons. Gallons. , Gals. Beer. Spirits. Wine. France .. S.O 1.33 34.5 Italy ... — 0.43 25.8 United Kingdom 27.4 0.S6 0.27 Switzerland .. 15.5 — 15.1 Austria .. 15.2 1.41 4.6 Germany .. 23.7 ■1.48 1.19 Australia .. 11.0 0.82 1.14 •Belgium .. 48.6 1.08 1.04 New Zealand .. 9.8 0.77 0.14