PUBLICANS AS “BANDITS.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2084, 9 January 1908, Page 3

PUBLICANS AS “BANDITS.”

TRADE’S PROTEST AND THE REPLY. Correspondence has passed between Air. 11. G. Robinson, secretary of the Licensed Victuallers’ Defence League, and the Rev. F. B. Moyer, in reference to a speech by the latter at Leicester, in which lie referred to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and described publicans, among others, ns tho “bandits” of the present day. The Council of the Association, at its meeting at Carnarvon decided that a letter of protest should be sent to Mr. Meyer. In carrying out this instruction, Air. Robinson said:—“You, no doubt, will bo pleased to find your remarks have obtained so much publicity, but it is your position as a man eminent in your profession, learned as a divine, a famous teacher of the Christian faith, that compels the Council to ask you for a recantation of the scurri,lions inference. Is it decent to hold up to opprobrium reputable tradesmen? Is it at all consistent with your own sacred calling nr, a minister of Christ? ‘Evil speaking. lying, and .slandering,’ equally witli ‘hatred, malice, and all luieharitableness,’ should be carefully eschewed, seeing that they are contrary to tlio laws of God and subversive of every moral attribute of mail.” THE REV. F. B. AIEYER. IN HIS REPLY, said:—“T gather that your Council has taken offence at my comparison between publicans and the bandits of the parable, who stripped the traveller of his clothing, wounded, him. and departed, leaving him half dead. I acknowledge that the comparison is a pretty severe one; and that, as wo all have to live together in this small island, wo should avoid needless causes of offence. And f wish also to assure you that l liav.o no nersounl quarrel or grudge against any individual publican. But, after forty years’ work among the people, r must beg to be forgiven for thinking that the public-houses in the midst of our working-class communities have much the same effect on them as tho presence of the bandits on tbe road between Jerusalem and Jericho had on the mail in the parable. Take the cases supplied by some of our big towns and cities, •where there are great areas from which tl le public-houses are excluded, and compare them with other districts, in which the public-houses are planted thickly. AATiera are children shoeless and women ill-dail, whore are the pawnshops filled with clothin a- taken from the person, where do of her trad “s find it hard to make a living Thoughtful men know well enough that these conditions prevail in localities where public-houses thrive. As to wounds, streets which I know well in London can show plenty on Saturday nights. at turning-out. time. As to half-dead, the word is not strong enough, if one takes into account tho babes overlaid bv drunken parents. I notice that you speak of honor and probity as the siiblimest'of all human virtues. May I ask you to add another —Pitc. or Humanity?”—“Alliance News.” Adv. ' C.P.