TOTALISATOR PERMITS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4534, 2 March 1923, Page 2

TOTALISATOR PERMITS.

A few weeks ago the “Ellesmere Guardian” advocated the taking of a referendum on the granting of totalisator permits. On reading the scieed referred to we pointed out the absurdity of the proposal, and backed up our assertion by logical facts and commonsense argument. The "Guardian” has now attempted to substantiate the unhappy, suggestion it made. Unfortunately, however, our contemporary’s reply savours more of hurt feelings and ill-applied logic tha,n anything else. Having made a suggestion regarding totalisator permits, that should have been headed “In lighter ve i n ” — a suggestion that was obviously intended for a “fill-up,” but crept, into the wrong column —our contemporary now seeks tp justify itself by inferring that its “Paeroa brother” is ' mournful because the town is “dry.” The writer then goes on to say: “We feel sure that our Paeroa brother will appreciate our argument a little better.” We certainly should appreciate our contemporary’s argument, if any were advanced, but where is it ? In the “Guardian’s” lengthy reply there is not one word justifying the advocacy of a referendum on totalisator permits. Instead, the writer offers mistaken.sympathy for Paeroa —sympathy that obviously could pot be spared—because “some naughty miners at Waihi voted all Ohinemuri electorate dry.” Truly, if such illogical “arguments” are advanced by would-be cultivators of public opinion we may anticipate referendums on everything under the sun—even pn a question as to whether a,n exhibition of hurt feelings, should be regarded as evidence justifying an utterly ridiculous contention, namely, that a referendum should be taken regarding the issue of totalisator permits.