HOTEL BUILDINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 419, 19 May 1902, Page 3

HOTEL BUILDINGS.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sir,—ln looking through the valuable columns of Saturday morning’s Times, 1 was greatly amused at some individual airing his feelings. It is evident that he is not a Cinquevalli, or he would not wish to hide his shining light under a bushel, but let his light shine before men. When a man is ashamed of the name his mother gave him at birth, I think that he disgraces the name of “ Liberty,’’ and that he should have chosen some other name. When a person changes his name he has some object in view. Perhaps the name is too well known to the police, or perhaps he has only just received his “ liberty ” from the great Government boarding-house, where they don’t give them whisky and milk for breakfast. Some people get very queer notions in their heads. One man last week got it into his head that the

devil had arrived in Gisborne. Perhaps this individual is the one mentioned under a false name. " Liberty-” It seems to me the one signing his or her name “ Liberty ” had taken too much the night before of something stronger than tea. Per-

haps he had taken too much “liberty” with the cup that cheers, and felt the effects next morning, for on reading the morning paper he must have teen something like the donkey when they put green specks on him to try and. make him eat shavings-; but now when

the effects have worn off I would ask him to read, mark, and inwardly di gest the few words spoken 'at the workmen's social. He will find th; the words used, “ It was a shame that publicans should be asked to build.” He goes on to say “ I was a good He then goes on to say I was a good deal surprised to read the remarks of one of the speakers to the effect that hotelkeepers had been compelled to build new houses.” He then goes on to say that the Licensing Committee never compelled anyone to build. They go very close to it, if you read the report re the Argyll Hotel. Who has giver, the publican the monopoly ? Why, the Prohibition party. They have been the publicans’ best friend. For myself, I believe in freetrade in the liquor traffic. Then our streets would be adorned at every corner with a fine building. It appears to me that Liberty is- not sincere, for when God created man He gave him a free will, but Liberty wants to take from man the liberty that God gave him. If the liberty had been taken from Adam and Eve they would not have eaten of the apple. It appears to me Liberty was born too late; he should have been born before Adam, then he would have been a blessing to mankind, for we should not have had the bogey to face. Perhaps Liberty is the reincarnation of Adam, which makes him so wise. I would like to ask Liberty why he brought Mr Lysnar’s name before the public. There is one thing I admire in Mr Lysnar—when he writes he signs his name. You remind me of some of the Boer leaders, you are a good fighter if you are in the trench. I must now conclude, but before so doing I would give Liberty a little advice if he wishes to become a shining light. I-Ie claims three - fifths of a majority. Form a syndicate, and 'instead of paying men and women to go round the colonies to spout, keep the money and build (we will build for you)’, say three large buildings for temperance boarding houses, with reading rooms, billiard rooms, and one room for social evenings.—l am, etc.-i 'JOHN W. MACKRELL,

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sir,—l was much astonished on reading the remarks made by Mr MackrelJ, at a recent dinner, and more especially

that a practical man like him should have made such statements. Why, for instance, should a builder object to the insistence upon new buildings ? Rather should they throw up their hats and cheer prohibitionists for what has been done in that direction. But let me put this question to Mr Mackrell or to any other sensible working man. Does the Kia Ora Butter Factory not distribute more among the‘working people of this district—carpenters indirectly—than many of the hotels in Gisborne ?

I am quite prepared to admit that the working men who are not abstainers do give the hotels more than they give to the butter-makers. Speeches such as those made by Mr Mackrell have the good effect that they call marked attention to the economic phase of this liquor question, and that is the point that wants touching up badly. Who are the builders in Gisborne who have the nice little homes of their own and the independence caused by a bank balance—the men who have been temperate, or the men who have been jolly good fellows with their earnings ? I have no need to mention names, but I will leave the matter to other workmen to ponder over.—l am, etc., WORKER.