MR EAST'S INCONGRUITIES

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 572, 17 November 1902, Page 3

MR EAST'S INCONGRUITIES

(To the Editor of the Times)

I Sir, —Mr East might have saved his sixpence, for there is a written document under the hand of Bishop Julius which he could Live referred to. containing the quotation, “I think Prohibition, if local, to he ineffective for good and likely to beget worse evils than drunkenness.” If Mr East’s bc-st arguments in reply to my assertions are contained in his last silly groundless attempt to discredit me over minor points, [ must ask impartial people who have taken tho trouble to follow tho d scussion to decide whether Mr East has maintained his attack'd! mo or not, on the following grounds : 1. In Mr East’s first letter lie calls some of the prominent planks of the Prohibition platform “ Wild wanderings.” lie justifies Mr Guest in sly grog selling. Jlc admits property valuations decreased considerably at tho time of “ No Licenso ” vote ut Clutlia. Ho makes the fulse statement that Mr Lysnar said that wages Would go up. He asks, “ Would it not be better to cease educating uncontrollable habits 2. In Mr East’s second letter he says it is nonsense to draw attention to the evils following carrying of “No License.” He draws a parallel on typhoid fovor, which he is pleased to look on as an ambush, which ho falls into himself later on. He cal! me a Conservative bceauso I advocate

ireedom against drastic measures. He

ignores tbo failure of Prohibition in America, and argues that because Americans have tried it they aro no fools. 3. In Mr East’s third lottor, ho claims in a hysterical rnannor, to have convcrtod me to Prohibition. He confoqnds con-

trol and regulation with drastic wiping out. Ho finds fault with tho heavy taxes loviod on drink. 110 condemns ltowntreo and Sberwell’s great work because the great contral hall at Oxford for tho temperance societios is called after John Kuskin, and John Kuskiu was the son of a wino merchant. 4. In Mr East’s fourth letter, ho repeats questions already answored by mo. He draws his little ambush on utterly groundless and fallacious arguments. He is elated ovor Lis presumptions victory. Ho alludes to a slump at tho land sale that proves toy contention of fall in values is no-lieenso is carried, and claims a win on threo points which havo all recoiled on himself.

5. In Mr East’s fifth lotter, aftor letting off his guns in No. 4, ho claims to bo a man of peaco. He admits ho doesn’t keep authorities, and it is not his place to quote. Inference : Mr East’s bald statement is good enough ; lie doesn’t quote, ho assorts—which is true. 0. In Mr East’s sixth letter, ho still perambulates his abortivo littlo ambush along. He oxcusos prohibition for not prohibiting as an argumont that it does. Ho usos a iittlo mild vituperation as argument against my assertion that Prohibition produces worse evils ; and, finding that I inadvertently wrote Novillo for Julius, has found at last, what lie has fondly but vainly tried for hitherto, a small slip to score on. Ho does not deny, but tries to excuse tho partial failuro of Prohibition in Clutha. 110 is going to writo a separate letter to prove Prohibition has not faile lin America. Over the other assertions mado by me, Mr East waves a Hag and a telegram, calls on mo to too tiio line, confess my faults, and with such convincing arguments closes his letter.

7. I have auswerod Mr East’s sovcntli at the outset of this letter. I am conscious of having tried to conduct my sido of the argument on fair, logical grounds. 1 claim nothing that I am not entitled to by impartial readers.—l am, etc., W. F. Crawford,

TO MR STAFFORD.

'(To the Editor of the Times); Sir, —I mado a fair proposal tq Mr Stafford in mine to all-comers of loth inst. Mr Stafford evidently does not wish to enter tho discussion on fair ground of dobato. IE it pleases him to hang round and bark whilst I am engaged with tho other champions, I cannot provont him ; but I will take no further notice of him. —I am, etc., W. F. Crawford.