BIFARIOUS MR BUTTIES.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 380, 5 August 1884, Page 2

BIFARIOUS MR BUTTIES.

TO THE EDITOR, I SIR,-^-I shrank from the avalanche /of ] words which I had unwittingly drawn' down on my devoted hqad from Mr Buttle. He reminds one af the typical Irishman with -his " Who'll tread on the tail of my coat ?" In his surprise at having his particular "fad" given so much public notice, he, like the warhorse, "Snuffed the battle afar off," and regardless of the exigencies of your space and the feelings of a long-suffering* public, rushed ! in- '" to print to the modest extent of two columns of the ordinary slop which serves his partyfor argument. Without emulating Mr Battle's volubility, I shall, with your per- ;-."*. Ji r „'...

mission, traverse such of his arguments as ar least worthy of oblivion. Mr Bjottle^does not appear to be aware *^ha|ftne7terMs*-diet, dietary, and dietetic are fusda.in relation -tp the economics of food and include something more than three meals a day. |jl , cheerfully make ' him a present of this suggestion. He wonders whether I am allibefc|l or a -conservatives and says "the vfery |?ssence;' of all ' liberal ' legislation is that t-Te; pepplO should have the right to ttiehise-yes. " So they should. What **4.(^rt^^pl^tp ' by me is that a factious minonfy-sbbuld offensively dictate to the majority. This is liberalism run mad. As to Mr Buttle s threat with regard to the effect of women voting on the question, it has endured the -attempted "tyranny of the " tT^bera^eJ-Ljartir.ad? long that | teetotallers hare presumed upon the supine-'nessbf--the^6th<^ ha only to refealblfhe vagaries of licensing committees to see with shame - what men gifted with on absence of common sense can do. Ido not agree with him that the first alteration of the law ' will be in the direction oF :-^*Mx Buttle .4ppearS' r to havK)an-^m^bl|^w^kneßs for Jftarmiid-i'^iHe^ assumed > his- lanra^Atfife wouM^uSh^f ull tilt against all who would deprive the dear creaturesrof their, lity-sty^-nd their— constipation: * He will' ho doubt be' * glad to hear that • b J , the , present Act„tfieir ' hoyrs are limited to ten.\ and that in nfo caseimflst ply be employed after 11 p.m. lam sorry^ifr Buttle, who is in other yespects 'a very estimable gentleman, should-have allowed his chivalry to overcome his common sense. In his anxiety to gather all the barmaids in his fond embrace, he has omitted to look at both r sides. Fie! Mr Buftle ! rWiser moths than yoii have tried* to pV.t tm?*- candle 1 * out, but they all came to a pyrotechnic end. When Mr Buttle ;afetesith'4tl undei* the old system of nominated benches the trade was "practically free, ..he says what is—well, incorrect. Quite enough 'restriction was then L-i-raafjeW-Ste* Km* o ? smMifog, be*. cauce the restrictions were'felt to be reasonable, being imposed bj men in whose judgment the public had' confidence. Quite 4i %* n f k $c ca^e mtt f fcg^ftnt butchers and* bakers"and v cdhdrestick-lnftTferg whom admiring fellow-fanatics have thrust blinking into the uncong enial air •£ pablie life. If Mr Buttle can threaten, allow me to give torn and.his.par^r^ijs timely cautitn: "Tou say you have the" welfare of your fellow at heart. Well, how, do not force him to do what you call right. The British h °? ", a jong-suffering animal, but when annoyed by wasps buzzing" arid finally biting, he may flourish his tail. Ton will then i W^M^l^^P tekingricefuge in LyomUhemts-'s shopiand inc.dl|i-_p in lor n. "poison." What^ a. pity the temperance people cahnot discern their best friends. No one more deplores the excessive use of liquor than I do, and Mr Buttle and myself differ lM3|^-*|tht^gJ^antfM^,ing that evil. In my opinion that end cannot be most easily -gained by coercion.— Your, Jcc,