LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 674, 26 November 1909, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

the; Licensing ;CoMPßoMisE;vs;vr:v;; , : Sir,—Per: medium;./of..;ypur ;:;/.,; I wish;'.to;'draw..public' dtteution: tb'.ono'.or.. ■ .. two phases-of the. recent , .compromise; on ;,the;' : ': Liquor question.- It. hos been freely asserted-;, .;':■•. that the• so-called■ agreement' has; beenrarrivedV!;-;! at; by- duly; .authorised-' fromf;', : :;.-,,. both 'parties; such statement has, infact^b'boa!-,'■■■:'■' made by somb of tho so-callod 'leaders NoAicenso party, lint, as a Prohibitioriisi.' ::■ and as one who has • soino ■ knowledge.; of., the '■■ '' facts ■of ■ the;case,;. 1 beg -leave"-.to, Bay' that;no,::: \ single person uor any ' clique , : of .persons, has'.';!■ over been authorised by tho 'i'eniperanco. public:,' to make .au -agreement with "the.' Trade. , !'_■■-. ■•':' Agaiir ana again' , huge meetings of.citiiens'of/.: 'Now Zealand, who" believe that, the, country: V ; would bo bettor without intoxicating: liquors,.'• ■ and their attendant evils,/have instructed .their,:!"; , delegates to the various No-License conventions; to demand -that legislation be enacted which';•? shall give-the people' the .right *to -Bay;, for,;. .: . themselves -whether... they... want .-,. liquor <. or ,;i..-.. ■ whether they- don't want it. lhatis alxcon,;..: mon sense and democratic method, and, we AM,y■■'■■' a professedly democratic country. ; tet, ; .every ■•:•;. time.the so-called leaders or,.NoiLicenso,partJ... .-■■. have backed* down .when it came to thepoint. ;■ of asking.,.-...- •■ ■ v ; ,;i : : ■ -v, i '•■■■ ■.'/•-' ■'•',■.,' : ■'•■':'. V ■ '' Eeoently Jingo, public meetings have-, been!; ■' ; held -throughout Now; Zealand, andjihe .unant'.*, , ' miry with -which they demanded-a square; deal;; ,-' ■on:the question must have,astounded'even the. ■',-; promoters of. the: meetings; and yet..TOmac,\ : . atfew-days-of'. tW.lost. of these.;, meetings-,we Jiind that sorno^ , .-those,who wens:- , on .tbej.v . .platforms ipreaching .an aggressive; and pro-'.! \ : grossivo policy .'have been . using,, backdoor,.; : methods- to bring .about a compromise., with" the Trade. To say,, as.has been said.'that the ;. temperance public will agree to abide by what,.:, ' has-been done-by. an insignificant clique, is, ' ; . in.my. eyes at anyrate, a 'wanton insult' to;. < ■ the intelligence of the people, who-have-voted; ;to rid tho country of on 6 of its. biggest;.nui-;.i, .-. sancee. I give', below tho method 1 of-obtain? ,■■.; ing; public' opinion that is pureoed •by theses -- so-called moral reformers, and-after the,small.'/ unauthorised clique had'signed- an. agreement , , with the Trade, ' a private" meebng,; called ■ by' circular, and l the ' circulars' .we^e,'■'.>; Bent V : ;only to personal' friends; was •: called. •;' At,.-.. this'meeting, the chairman stated he.'iwouldv t allow-no .resolutions or , no'-oritici6m..;ef.ithe;i ■ ■compromise, and he kept his. word; >In:the,,'; press next day was a report stating tnat,.a\,.r / ' mwfirig' of thfl.'Auckland party-had'been.'held-; : .■". and'that; the meeting had ■'. agrefed • to. support. , the'compromise. ;No\r there is sitting -in tfol-;V -' .lington a convention' that is..professedly.; , , a : ' t ; ■ V 'representative one, but is-really.vforytho most ~ .part; a gathering of,loyal supporters.of those; who have usurped the power in, the No-I.icense- : , ; party; tKis convention is nominally supposed. ■■■■' t to consider the Bill, clause by:clause, yet'the Premier, stated last week that he, had in writ- \ ing the proposals in the!compromise and that any'disputd was to'bo' settled,by Dr.';'Findlay.< i: - .■■ Huge' public '■meetings • in 'Auckland • 'have v . vehemently protested against 'the, 'compact,'-'and.'-v".-yet■ delegates' from those • meetings wbre'-not-'.".';. allowed oven to,lay before the convention , the ■ ■;■■ ■ views of the , Auckland ; pnblic. , SucHis' the : democratic "method; that has. been adopted.- , ; "[ , : ;.-: ■ Now, I would! like to know,'through yonr; •colVimns,. whether -the. Wellington publio- ' '. silly' enough to' imagine that the compromise': ','• ■is"a , l)iece of progressive legislation,'6r ; . whither ; ; : they can -.see-the real. purpose, namely, ,the.-" : . harnessing of a popular movement 1 for vthe'i■"'■'.■ : purpose of ■ bolstering up: the "Ward Ministry. ~' That such is .the , desired end is obvibue'to iany. one who. /knows ; : anything of;-political,, ; ■'. 'methods,.'and-after, the.recent !back-down,'',on', ; . -.the/land question, it, must be obvious.';to;'eU;-;' ,! •. that -Sir ; Joseph,: Ward is; clutohing:~eagerlyv at I .'.:.'■';. Anything'that will; help him to ha,ag. pn\to ; , jOfflCe.. .;,';.,; ':•;.;■;/ ~,;••,: .-'.■: .■;■■'.. ■•■.''V ■ ,:r,iS':. : Z. ' ,; .''HT' '■■ ■ Now, sir,"l irusj: that the. will,, assert i their.. . Tights, > and -make.! known; t in* ; ias plain" a manner. r$ possible' that, •'' ; ! vote '-.to make.; sober;, they doni,-; • . Mo'it for, the' fnn of keeping an, antobratio I ministry -on the - Treasnry pehches. , '; Thanking ■.•'.- ■'■:' : you in. anticipation,—l ■•■•'■' ..,;'■,',"!.!„: :; ;, ..' : ';' v , ;;r^ ;: ;. ;v, . :.•■:>;■ •■ ";thqs. ; ;w;alsh;U';; : ; . : ;■■• I 'Auckland. ...,-■.■ '..V ,, -' 1, - -,'■.''.'/'; J"-' :,1:: ' •'. ;.,■ Sir,—Having?read the-Teporis given in .thft- ■ [newspapers. rcspeciing.-.-this cpniproniise;', .andj. .'■■':. . being an ei-M'.H.E., and'.6ne who- has'forjyears 1 - • ■ , 'past taken an-active part- in-, the liquor v 1 troversy, I request a little epaco- to make , a.■'..> fewoomnients'-thereon;. •'•■ : ;.,.-.•;-,- ■'..'■;■;' / : -;- . . ■'; jTheiisamei)mistake is; nowibeingimade-whiobv ■'■' ; from -.the , beginning, of what is falsely ? termed .'■■,. ~ruined, i tUenoanso'''of.,ctviL'and religious;.libertl : . and; true.vChristiauiitem^orancpi/namely,.. tV.' . , dealing 'with; the controversy as beingsbetweei,; ■ '• . the'. Prohibitionists and. "Thei. Tradei" where.aii -.r the/coutfet'. is:'really t ;betwoen'ithb. ; .Prbhib'ition'! ietsrand .the defenders of -civil': and, religiou«>.i : liberty—tlierlitety' of...the \ Gospel: pnour, ,, LorfiM \ ,and Saviour; in , which..wei are'oihorted : by hi)•;!• .great Apostle ;■ to 'stand, fast;-- Eightly oi>- ■•■' '.. wrongly "TheTrade'-' has gut a very evil ■■?&.'. 'putoition. The old proverb-"Hive aaog'a bao' -■ name and' hang- him" .wilbalways bo.verin'eA >. On the other hand the Prohibition party, com''' prises, many men ,of pioty-and good social,. position , and character, , tbongH''as : blind as the; . .bats.and the. moles, ag.ito.the t truo,.; ( charactoi; , ; of .the', propaganda.. When the .average' inan, ibr ..woman-.views , and judged the'!.controversy;'..,!. ; asibeing. between such : -.good men and' '^The.' Trade,". he.'pr. ; she; naturally sides with the, . ■prohibitionist, and 60 the cause■'of -I'oivil' and-'. ' ; religious.liberty—tho ; liberty of. the, :. goes, by. .default, and the. .Gospel .bl Mahoniet,! ;coinpulsory. total'abstinehco, ; is'. riveted;.on 'the•'.'.' ; ' necks' 1 6f' Christian's./'■.',. "'.; , . v '.'..:.;;;'..'.-"/.I T .lt- ~.v-..*".*.' ;■'■.■,

.As 'prohibitionists have all -along: jiffirmed■'..- ' : that it is the duty. o£ all Christians to "conform/ ■ to :their propaganda,' I now repeat what ,1 haw..' ■■■ said before, and now promise ,tb'bcoomo, a pro-:/ ■. hibitionist provided they can enow ...me , .even/: ; : ; ■ one text in-the. Bible requiring' me. to" becqm'e'-,;. '•'■; a.total,-abstainer, or to: warrant me-in:compel-" . ■■ ling otlms to become, total abstainers..■■ Unde r'■?■ , the- Gospel evisry/.nian has liberty. tobecome' a '..■.'.■ ; total abstainer pr. a vegetajianj,bnt htfcno,-' s ' : -warrant ,'to; compel others';, to become .suoIl:./ /: Under oertain'conditions, ,t elibuld ,think;'my«:',';,;.' self warranted.in taking,.the pledge"fora;lim«'-" ited- time ;in order, to. encourage/others, who,', ' 'were in darigerof drinking to> excess to itake .i-"-it ■ for: a'limited; time. „' ■'?' -';.-■ ■'//'/ ''-,•'■.'' ; / : .In concluding'. I : may' say that as ! this/com- • promise was not ■ brought before the eonsti tu-', '•' '-.". enoies-at [the;-last, general: election/.it ; ongai,; not' v to. 'be ..finally eettlcsd during -, this.':i-.' .present .'. .session,',;, inasmuch, as,' it; involves':.-,/ the rights and liberties, of tiery maiHand ■: man m the colony. ' Under; ,the.ilocal , optioii; ..■ system■:no provision;has, been, made for allow- v - '~•■..' 'ing-voters to vote for.reform or • State 1 : con-'.' ■; ;trol. . Eecognising the difficult: position,;into* ■ ': : : which we havo now drifted,' it would , 'seoni. that best solution would'.be' , State \;con> i. ' trol;- hotels/ snperviasd by Government" supply-.; •'■■':; ing liquor in : moderate quantity at'a fised pnoe, ; ; but no'orio connected tfith tho--Kotol 'deriving. ,■. •ony.;.profit-.'by. the 6ale;-r-lam, 1 .et0. 1 v,;"- ■''■■:' •■,.'. '■■■:':<;'■ I'' : - ;; '; v 'ou) eotoNiisT;;^/' 1 November-15,,1909.'; ■',-' '.' ■: ' :-/v'i'i'i-;:/ REVISEp-: UPPER;. HUTT TIME-TABLE; ;.■ Sir,—I 1 have! .read .': "Silver Stream's".' -'ietter-"':. v . ■with., interest,, and agree with'; him : that, :;he ; ';:- ■ ;should> not leave his. fireside'.earlier ."but.", the'.'■■',< ; :; time-table should be continued ias at -present- ':' ' with-perhaps, a. diminished wait'at' the'Lbwor." ■- ■. -."■;. Hntt.r However, I iunJnformed by the : Bail. V : ■:■'*. way. Department' th'at : should: thd .'7.43 ', alni." '/' .trainlstart as at present.it'.will,not:arrive.'at" . ... .'Wellington, till 9.6 a.m.,' taking eight.Lniin-i ;; ," ■utes'. longer. to. do', the - journey .\ Now,-.this; W:' .-.,:■:' alright'-,ior. the- gentleman 'who "manages,-.'the;:.:,..■' .office, and. tho miltinnu \yho-eiijoye ;h'is' bed,' , :' •'.. and the golflte who' goes, to ~thi> office .when;h«*'. : .plcasos; -but-j please consider .the. clerk.: , 'and*.:'.'■■■■;.■ shopman. Tlw first,' whose: hburs are ; 9; till* ; v .: 5,' and the shopman,.B.3o till .6.:. Must': the;;,,' '■■■' clerk arrive in town. at' 7.40 and wait" about,':, till, ,9, and- •■ tho shopman ■ lias■; never'. been : tph'X ■:. :.'■ sidefed. At.pr'eseht he arrives"at lil), and'cahri::>.i ;, not, Idave/for-ihis honie before 9.2s'a.mV^Are'' ..'.,'\-i' : these humble-members of the community'-ti.be.'/-i'.' , debarred from enjoying,. God's gb6d,\vho!esome',"•' :' air and the milk and honby Of the sutt:VaU ;■:■ leyß, , : ■ ,-■-.. :.- ' : - .: : - r.:';y :■■■■. ■ Now, I ask "Sijverstreani""is it not ,■,•.:■ (hat he and his kind should leave their, homes-V/'V .ten■ minutes earlier. ; than that tho.poor 'clerk.' ::\ should,be-forced'.t^-jjaye:an.,hour ; earlier, or.;,' ;:•?!■ (tiye'u'j) .his home, Wiho'. country, arid 'live in : -i'y;!K back; robms in.a back; street, nsl am doing, at:; ~.; present. I liavo.a so'ctibn.at'Si.lvprstream, nnd* , -:.•;...-, I: have been' looking; forward , to. building' s.'::. y",\ house, .and..taking my info".nnd'.family toi-the.'/V '-i};. country;,:but., if, "Silverstream". has: his'..was;:';.'.-. : , the tin\c : tttble' will bar-nie.going to the..siipv',- ,v •urbSi'.'. and; t.he future will have nothing: in' ; ' '- stbro -for mo and >ny • fellows but'. back ;roqme';'/v ■ :. and back streets.—l am, etc.,.. ■: :'',-.',■" : i f ';-.'.:' -::-./; :■ A''WOULD-BE /SILVEBSTEEA^" "Xi .:; November; 24,; 1909./,' ■..•-■-;'-/, v -V^:A^' : ';'■'