CORRESPONDENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 164, 14 June 1909, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir.—Your recent leader en the Liquor Question in the K ing Country, one would have thought should have stirred up the district to action, but if there is anything being done in the matter 1 have not heard of it, and in the event of matters being allowed to repose, might I suggest that a small committee of some of oar most solid and responsible people in the district should draft a memorial, which, after being confirmed by a public meeting. should be presented to Parliament, to every member of Parliament and every newspaper in the Colony. The memorial should show how the King Coun try is dealt with in an entirely different manner to the rest of the Dorainton.and that this differential treatment is both harrassing and repugnant to those who arc now resident, and i * doing much to stop the settlement and progress of the district. There is not much sympathy with the sly grog selJccr, but I cannot believe that the spirit of the Act was ever intended to have application as at present. How many of those outside the King Country arc aware that if a man who has always been used to his glass of spirits before retiring, and his glass of beer at dinner, can only do so now, practically at the pleasure of the local constable, who. though you may endeavour to conform with all regulations, may summons you to prove that you did not bring that liquor into the country for sale. Why should we, who may order our goods from a firm of high standing in Auckland, not be able to have them delivered to u» by the railway in the same manner as we could if we lived tr* a realty prohibition district? Thv position might have been deemed advisable when the population of the Kin,; Country was largely composed of navvies, working on 'he railway line but under the present conditions is unwarranted, and iniquitous. The stroma attached to being a witness, or a principal in thc?c so cafted "sty grog cases'* te a constant danger, and those who are not already permanent residents hesitate before becoming so. For the sake of our wives and families and for our own manhood, let ua make the present scandalous position of affairs welt known, and there shoutd be no stopping until there is a drastic change. Sir. would your paper start a Liquor Question Fond, so that when action is necessary and has been publicly decided upon, the funds shall be available. ■—I am. etc.. NEMO.

[The suggestion 6t eur correspondent with regard to a fund to further the movement in favour of having the present restrictions removed, and the district given the same treatment with regard to local option as other parts of the Dominion, is an excellent one, and we shall be glad to receive contributions. The proprietors of the Te Kuiti Halt have already donated the collection taken at the public meeting, amounting to about £2 10s.—Editor K.C.G]

To the Editor. Sir,- -I should like to know if it is intended to take any steps towards fgorming a local body to control the town at Tc Kuiti. Some time ago when the Land Board was instructed to take acfton towards having a Native Town Council set up, objections were raised, chiefly in connection with the town loan, which was being expended by the County Council. The a loan money is now expended, and I must congratulate the County officials on the manner in which the work has been carried out. But a town the size of Tc Kuiti certainty should have direct local Government. There are a thousand and one matters to be done which should only be handled by a town body, and there is nothing to be gained by shirking our responsibilities. As an instance of the necessity for a town body. 1 may mention the project for rating on unimproved values. This system may be desirable in the town, but it is a moot point s to whether it will benefit the whole country. If the townspeople want it why not form a separate local body, and go in for the unimproved rating without dragging in the whole country. This is only one of many points in favour of direct focal government, and I hope the townspeople will consider the question deeply and assume their responsibilities. —J am, etc., BACK BLOCKER.

TO THE fcWTOR.

Buy—ln your issue of June 3rd, 1 notice a letter signed F. Bredenbeck. in which he tells your readers that he thinks nothing could be more contemptible and mean than to see settlers writing anonymous letters about the late Postmaster at Kaeae*. He also says that the writer of those letter? \$ ashamed to sign bis rt?iu# to them, and that be heard Mr £jwood give out •I a public meeting that be would not keen the Post oflkc going much longer, and also that Mr Elwood was within bis rights in closing the Post office. Now, sir, if we believe Mr Bredenbeck there is nothing more contemptible and mean than far a man to defend binawtf when tii* crapulous people tell the public that such • man is saying

what is absolutely false. Surely Mr Bredcnbeck did not read his own letter before be signed his name to it. Otherwise he could not have any idea of the circumstances attending this matter or he would never rend it for publication. New, I would like to tell Mr Bredcnbeck that I am not in the least ashamed to sign my name to anything 1 write, provided it was necessary to do so, though I have seen some correspondence lately that I would not like to see my name signed to. Now if the Postmaster gave out at a public meeting that he would not keep the P.O. going much longer, that statement may be taken to mean any period from a month to six months. Now about the Postmaster being within his rights in closing the P.O. as Mr Bredenbeck tells us he was, I admit that he was quite right in resigning his position as postmaster, but 1 don't think he was justified in closing the P.O. without at least notifying the Chief Postmaster of his intention to do so. In conclusion ( would like to tell Mr Bredcnbeck that it would be very interesting work for him to try and learn some at least of the facts connected with the matter before writing on the subject and if I can assist him to get that information I am entirely at his service.—l am, etc., KAEAEA SETTLER.