THE LIQUOR QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 51, 25 November 1918, Page 5

THE LIQUOR QUESTION

Sir,—ln Saturday's- issue of Tμ Dominiok appears a letter over tho signature of Mr. William Barr, in which reference is made to the Prime Minister and the licensing question. Mr. Barr states: "Mr. Massey blames the Prohibition movement for preventing ablo men from entering public life." This is a somewhat sweeping assertion in which Mr. Barr does the Prime Minister an in-

justice. I have been present at many deputations on this much-vexed question which have waited on the Prime Ministor and other Ministers front time to time, and I could not lecall any occasion when Mr. Massey had made any such declaration. Accordingly I turned up tho report of tho deputation from tho Moderate League in your issue of November 11, which Mr. Barr had evidently in mind. I find that Mr. Massey is there reported to have slated: "The, liquor question, under present conditions, was mixed up with national and local politics, and he had no hesitation in saying that the effect had' been bad. Tho liquor issuo kept some splendid mon out of politics altogether; and it. induced a porpetual agitation with regard to legislation and administration." Now this is ii very different thing from tho fitntement which Mr. Ban , would attribute to Mr, Massey, and it is only fair to tho Prime Ministor that this, I hope unintentional, inaccuracy on, Mr. Barr's part should be pointed nit, and en prevent any wrong impression being caused by this portion of his letter.—l am, etc., * . VERITAS. Wellington, November 23, 1918.