CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2287, 4 September 1908, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Correspondence on public muttorf is welcomed at all times, but it must bo distinctly understood that tbit journal is in no way associated with tho opinions of its correspondents.J THIS “LAMBING-DOWN” CASE.

[To the Editor.] Sir, —In your issue of yesterday the greater part of “Britisher's ’ letter is covered in my reply to “Temperate in all Things,” so.ivo will only dal with that portion of “Britishers beginning “Is this tho only trallic that cries to Go<l for vengeance r Mv answer is, “No.” But there is no justification of the trallic m liquoi —it is admitted, that minor evils exist, and unscrupulous traders may sell “shoddy” for the real thing. 1 never knew or heard of any man alter buying too much “shoddy going home and bashing his wile s brains out ,or cutting her thon.it, or throwing his children on the lire, and so out though this sort of thing has oltoil boon done wliou too uuicli lujuoi has been consumed. Then again, Sir I have yet to learn that “brewers’ and publicans” arc exemplary landlords either as owners of hotels or tenement houses. If wo are to believe the evidence (often before Courts of law) of hotelkeepers who ■hold their hotels and licenses under (brewer) landlords, tho conditions are sometimes insufferable, for not only a very high rent is charged, but extortionate prices have to bo paid for tho liquor bought, as the publican is prohibited from dealing in tho best market as ho occupies “a tied house. Then again, Sir, wo know a nuniboi of those engaged in the liquor trade who arc owners of house property in Gisborne, and wo know of no case where they are more lenient an tlieir demands for rent than other owners. Then, Sir, I believo in a good lyago for good work, and moreover have always paid such wage, and that, too, as soon as they have become due. “Britisher” is most unfortunate m his reference to the sweated iindoipaid employee, and of all businesses tho liquor business is by far tlie worst in this respect; long hours and poor pay is inseparably connected with the traffic in liquor. 1 have before mo at this moment a- report.oil wages (submitted to the British House of Parliament). In this report the liquor trade stands at the very bottom. Take my advice, “Britisher, don’t waste your ability in a vain endeavor to defend a trade which has no leg to stand on. If there is one argument weaker than the rest 1 ■ s the last, “If the so-called victim had been taught to exercise his,w> . Don’t you know, ' Britishu, that alcohol attacks the will-undermuies it, enfeebles and destroys it, as instance the victim in this ca-e. It you have not yet learned tins tact, 1 may add there -arc some suclr casts Zen in Gisborne (and that .well known to the writer), and besides, q:,. lvstory luu> given ns > Burns, and our own-beloved Bracken. By S the greatest of tins trio wrote ? an vears of a>a>, “Mv days are In the sere and yellow leaf, the fruits and flowers of love aro gono the worm, the cancer, and tlie miU ° n H n °VMNCIs'STAffOIID.

(To tho Editor.) c;.. j am sorry to see that my suggestion has not been acted upon and that the “seven good m«m and true” would sooner have the otignu resting upon them than show up their mate by signing a letter £ anything of the disgraceful tiansac tion alluded to. If “Britisher is tilt only champion they can hud h( f a poor case of U. He makes* °{. capital out ol tho word it, but i •know, for a positive fact, andl there, are no “it’s” about that, that tnc whole details are absolutely true, am I should think the party most concerned also knows a little about it "hen he took tho troublo to take a J-I. out to interview the man i,;„ monev Why doesu t Britisher” get the J.P. to make a statement of what occurred on the H knows only too well the tiuth ol the whole transaction. I Hunk the ov deuce is strong enough to hang two cats on. It wants probing, Eirt’sh er ” but you are not the man to do’ it. It is the Licensing Committee tlmt should do