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Kumara Times, Issue 260, 4 August 1877, Page 2

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sir —Having heard the arguihsnto propounded by some of thd speakers at the meeting—re Local Option BUI—I did not, being a publican, wish to make myself conspicuous by interference, I will avail myself of your columns, by your kind permission, to make a few statements, which I am sure the G. T. have overlooked. Ist. The Local Option Bill will receive the almost united support of the publicans, or any reasonable man, when they are acquainted with the purport of the same, and 1 cannot, from the slight information gleaned at the meeting! see the advisability of supporting* ami recommending what has not been demonstrated; 2nd. The resolutions passed at the meeting were by ho means the unanimcfcg opinion, as there was no one to oppoK. them; the worthy, chairman, after show of hands having declared them carried unanimously, thus leaving those who -.' differed in opinion “no option” bat to succumb. 3rd. With regard to the arguments and instances in support of the ' : Bill made by one of the speakers, one would be led to think that the Canadian Government were strongly in favour of suppressive measures, 1 give the follow-; ing, not from statistics, nor hearsay, but from personal knowledge. The Pro-. vinca of New Brunswick,, by the influence of the Sons of Temperance, in Parliament assembled, carried a Bill similar to the one in force in the State of “Maine,” U.S.A. through both Houses and when sent to the Governor for signa- . ture, he distinctly refused. They next sent the Bill f ir H.M.s signature, when .. the following reply was received . —That , liquid not be sanctioned, as it was a direct infringement on the liberty of the “subject” and would not be tolerated under a Constitutional Government. Earl Russell wound up the reply by an , old but very true statement from John Law . —That there could be no Tyranny s > oppressive as that of the “ majority” over the. “minority,” nor anything so likely to create confusion and discontent. I will not trespass further than by quoting what that great Apostle of Temperance, J.B, Gough; laid down, viz., that those so deeply interested should do as he did, try “ m6ral’suasion” and I think, that by doing so they’ would make more “ teetotallers” than they can by Act of Parliament,’ My opinion personally is that by suppressing the legitimate sale of Uie socalled “poison” the Option Bill would offer a premium for “ sly-grog selling.”— I am, <feo., W. S. Haiwa.