CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2289, 7 September 1908, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

I [Corrospoiulonco 9 1 * public nuittcrs I is welcomed *it nil times, but it must ,bo distinctly ’ understood that tins journal is in no way associated with the opinions of its correspondents.] THE ‘‘LAMBING-DOWN” CASE. [To tub Ennon.] Sir, —As my name has boon brought prominently before the public in this ease, I will crave your indulgence for space to explain matters. In the first place I regret exceedingly that you should be threatened with legal proceedings and requested to apologise for putting tho case before the public. I should bavo thought that after your divulging my name I would have been the party for the solicitor to have written to for further particulars, but up to the present 1 have had no communication from thorn. L In their letter to you of the 3rd lust, they say, “No information which Mr. Black could givo would avail our clients individually, unless you promised to insort- tho name if Mr. Black divulged it.” With this I t’-n’t agreq, as I think I could have given alli-tlio information that w;,.0 required•Sj.jiJiring tho 'charge home to the guilty party, and, further, what was to hinder tho seven publicans from going to the police station and enquiring who was the publican who bailed the man out? I presume the eighth man would not require to go. It is very evident the solicitors are trying*to trip you up to make a ease against you. hut 1 think from the tone of your leading article you are quite callable of looking after yourself. I may say that when I heard the man’s story I felt an injustice had been done to him, and I tokl him I would try and get some of his money back. I saw a solicitor and asked him to call upon the publican and ask for the return of a portion of the money. He did so, but bis request was refused. Then tlio local appeared, and three days after the publican, accompanied by a local J.P., paid a visit to Pakowhai, where an interview was held with the man. Here let me say that tho customary formality of calling tlio manager first was dispensed with. The publican was in su-ch a hurry that ho rushed by the homestead and bunted up the man away back in the run. Now I would like to know who sent the J.P. out there, and paid bis expenses, because I don’t think lie wont out for tlio benefit of his health, and why has ho not made a statement or what occurred at the interview? I cannot help hut think that the Licensed Victuallers of Gisborne have been ill advised to take tho stand they have done in this case. The only thing I can suggest now to clear the matter up would bo for them to ask tho man to sue the publican for the return of as much of his money as would be allowed by law.—l am, etc., G. J. BLACK. [To the Editor.] Sir, —“’Tis file voice of Jacob, but tbo hand of Esau.” The letter of Friday’s issue is signed “Francis Stafford,” but the ‘diction is ' Miss Hughes. The writer (<jr writers) ignore tlio greater portion of the issue in my last, and shift their ground on the portion deal with. In comparing one class with the other, i can only, say that my business experience with both sides leads me to the opinion that the “trade” are equally as honest. pay better prices, are more liberal, and givo you less bother in their dealings than will tho average prohibitionist. As for husbands and wives fighting, I once knew a parson and his wife who fought like “Kilkemiv cats, ’ but neither of them drank. As for throwing tlio children on the fire,' I was not aware that this kill'd of' sport was in any way general. No wonder our worthy Premier is so much concerned about infant mortality. It is high time such sport was declared illegal. I should- like to know, sir, whether such sport is confined to those who get their liquor at the hotel bar only, or whether it also prevails amongst those who get the gallons in the house in true pro>. x lilbition style. As tor r ‘Moderato,” he persists in missing tho point. If I called him a thief, could lie prove that he is not one?_ He might deny it, but all tho denials in the world would not prove bis honesty, or rc-establisli his reputation in the eyes of the public. I here is an old axiom which- holds good in. this ease—-that every man is innocent until lie proved to 'be guilty (proved, mind you no mere assertions). And even if a man stands in the dock confronting the charge, no man lias the -right to assume he is guilty until the verdict is given so. further, we are exhorted to be charitably minded one toward tlie otlior, but apparently there is no charity in prohibition.—l am, etc., „ '“BRITISHER." Gisborne, Sept. 6. IS NO-LICENSE A FAILURE? [To tue Editor.] p lr > Vreof of tho No-licenso party s. misleading statements is once again evidenced by -the following extract re Oamaru from Mr. Prosser’s article headed “Is No-licenso i\ Failfife-" ’ in your issue of to-day, yiz., ‘though 1 went from one end to the other of this bright little city, I found not ono shop to let or unoccupied. ’ This satement has .been previously trotted out and has been shown to lie erroneous by no less a staunch No-liceuse -advocate than the Rev. T. N. Griffin, the Wesleyan minister of Oamaru, who,, writing to the “Otago Daily Times” on August 11th last, said, “My friend undoubtedly erred in implying that there were no vacant shops in the borough,” and -then proceeds to refer t 0 various shops which were vacant oil tho occasion of Mr. Prosser’s visit-. Mr. Griffin’s admission of Mr. Prosser’s misrepresentation is all the more striking from the fact that lie (Mr. Griffin) accompanied Mr. Prosser in his tour through tho streets of Oamaru. As birds of a feather flock togethor, I would like to suggest that for his own sake Mr. Prosser, when lie again visits Oamaru, should take with him some enthusiast like Mr. Francis Stafford, ior instance, who could come back and entertain us with further fairy tales either of his own imagination or of an informant’s. —I aril, etc., “LOOKER-ON.” Gisborne, Sept. 5. MISS HUGHES’ ADDRESS. [To the Editor.] Sir, —In your Saturday’s issue a letter appears from -a correspondent signing himself P. G. Andrew, who endeavors to throw dust in the eyes of your readers as to what Miss Hughes is reported to have said at her Tuesday night’s meeting. Any ■ unbiassed individual-who was at the meeting and will read your report will understand that the writer of tlio lotter is wilfully misrepresenting Miss Hughes, and I have no doubt that your reporter will bear me out iu this. Mies Hughes stated distinctly the reasons of a falling off in the Ashburton vote, and, regarding tho

Clutba. her statement was “that tho increasing No-licouso vote was a strong argument in favor of the movoinout. n Miss Ilugjhcs showed without fail “how tho adjoining electorates had adopted No-lieenso on account of tho good results that had boon so clearly demonstrated by Clutba.” No-liconso has proved (i big and permanent success in Clutba, and, perhaps, it will bo remembered that the liquor interests said many, unkind tilings of ibis electorate iii tlio early days of its reform —but time his given the lie to these falso filateirionts. But still, not unabashed by this, similar statements and methods are boing adopted t 0 discredit other places that have come under tlio Nolioenso F. G. Andrew can rest assured that neither Miss Huglies nor any other No-lieenso 'reformers have any cause to fight shy of Ashburton. ... Tlio testimony given by 40 of its leading business men and loading firms as to the benefits and success derived by the adoption of Nolieenso cannot he .refuted, and ,no insinuations can wipe out the fact that Ashburton has prospered financially, socially, and morally to the discredit of iiquordom since she closed up the open bar. The testimony of I the Rev. E. Whitohouse, vicar of Stephen’s, Ashburton, touches tho spot. Ho states: “Previous to No-license coming in lie had stood aloof. Ashburton was a town of CiOOO inhabitants, and it had six hotels and a club when he first came, and there was the same loafing about the pub-lic-house, the same disgusting scenes, tbe same temptations to tlio boys, and and tlio same liability to insult as in other towns, but lie was pleased to say the town was quite clean now, and, in fact, he believed one of tlio cleanest in New Zealand. It was in a nourishing condition. Tho publicans thought they were ruined, but lie was pleased to say the hotels had all fetched their price, and were now prosperous shops, offices, .and private hotels, which wore well conducted and financially sound. Tho club kept up its membership, and some businesses had doubled since No-lic-ense came. The co-operative stores bad increased from £33,000 in 1902 to £OO,OOO in 1907. He did not lay much stress on that side. Give the people character and they will get money. Tho growth of the temperance sentiment had been very marked. He was president of tho football and numerous social clubs, and had attended the smoko concerts and soci ils, both before No-license camo in and since, and he could safely say the practice of drinking was fast dying out. He thanked God for Noliccnso, and lie intended to do his best to keep it, and to extend the bounds of its Influence.”—l am, etc., “FAIR PLAY.”