MR. T. E. TAYLOR' AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 948, 15 October 1910, Page 10

MR. T. E. TAYLOR' AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Sir,—Lik most unbiased people, I am. perfectly'sure!-of two things about tile Licensing Bill': (1) That whether it passes or not there will bo a tremen.dous swing of-votes from No-license to Continuanco at tho '■ next poll; and (2) that the Government and _ the . brewers have worked together for 'just that result. Before,, very .long, .1 have, not the least doubt,' the Norliceiise leaders will realise both these truths, and will bitterly regret that they were' uiiable to see at"once that the chorus'of lamentations.from the .brewers., wk.s. part, of the. game. Every moderate person to whom I have spoken—every man, that" is'to say, who, like myself, votes 1 No-license, but combines -temperance with a. decent regard for good liquor at the proper timer-has been laughing at the Trade's clumsy and .greatly overdone posturing as a seriously threatened individual. This by way of preface to my opinion'upon the amazing 'stateliiont by Mr.. T. J3. Taylor in your issue of to-dav. • ». Until a year ago I'had a profound re-gard-for Mr. Taylor. I disliked his general politics, but'l regarded ;him :as one ; of the : most valuable men in the community.' About a year ago, however, he suddenly'discovered an. unsus : pected spring, of virtue in'the Governand since then he has been the greatest asset of tho party of unclean government.. Not. that he desires unclean government, of course. Bub every time he criticises a gross aet cf .'maladministration he .winds ..up"' with a saying clause that completely destroys the.' effect of his criticism. As.. a. result. ' you hear the! Government 1 s' friends in'the press and elsewhere saying something: like. this: ; "Mr. 'T., E. Taylor, whom : everybody knows. to, be a bitter opponent of tho Government : and venomously fanatic in liis criticism, of '.abuses,' cannot be considered as likely to take ■ a too-favourable view of the Government's administration, and ; yet even he,": etc.', etc 1,'.t0 the great belabqurment of Mr. Massey. , Like your evening contemporary, -he-'.poses -as: an enemy: of■ the'•TJnelean .'Party, ■ and ' yet plays .daily: into' that Party's . hands. . Tho reason for this is not absolutely known, but those with any political insight havo a shrewd suspicion that; Mr. Taylor's political ambitions- are wrapped up'in the Ward. Government. !; JHeis , surely :as shrewd : as-anybody where the liquor question' is. concerned. One would expect' him to be tho first to detect that the Bill is',a,trick to iupset tho No-licenso movement, ,I'et lie actually says this: ."My, feeling, is that, at this, juncture the Government deserves the ■ unqualified support i of every man andwoman iii New ; .ZealaM;,who:is, .a lover of clean'things," is.obvious to me that. Mr. Taylor ; is more concerned to defend the Government than; to protect tho . cauS'e" for which he has doneso much. lam not yet so,very old and tired that politics do hot - touch my feelings. v I .will reach that stage soon, but in the meantime I have t6 _ndmit; although it is' a sorry confession to have to make,. that the disappearance of' the old T. E. Taylor has caused me great distress. - But I never expected. that I should ever see. him. inflict a mortal 'injury j off the No-license; cause ; :in .the interests of our corrupt Government.— I am, 'etc., ' : - ...- ~v- ■, ■ !.. - AMODERATE DRINKER. Wellington,' .Octobor if). . •