A CORRECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5134, 6 September 1877, Page 2

A CORRECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —We have just learnt that in your issue of the 15th inst. you give, under the authority of the Press Agency, an account of a conference which was held here on the evening of the 13th, and which you name a temperance conference. You will allow us to say that it is incorrect almost from beginning to end. Beyond the fact that a conference —called by circular—was held, and that a motion in favor of the Local Option principle was carried, everything in your account is, we may say, incorrect. The facts, if you will accept them from us, are these—1. The meeting, called by us a “ conference on the laws relating to the sale of intoxicating ' drinks and on the drinking customs obtaining in the colony,” was held on the evening of the 13th inst. It was called by circular addressed to two hundred and forty-eight of the inhabitants of Wanganui and the neighborhood, amongst whom were the doctors, lawyers, merchants, ministers, members of the various local bodies, and others, and of whom about one hundred attended. It was issued quite without regard to the views on the temperance question entertained by those invited. Previously to the issuing of it, a number of resolutions were drawn up by the promoters of the meeting, which were appended to the invitation issued, as resolutions which would be proposed at the meeting. It may be said that because called by circular 1 , the meeting was not a public meeting, but it cannot be said that it was not a truly representative meeting. The full representativeness of the meeting was in fact admitted more than once by those in opposition. It was presided over by Robert Pharazyn, Esq., whose name is itself a guarantee for the proper conduct of the meeting. 2. The resolutions proposed at the meeting were these—(a) “ Seeing that drunkenness, with the evils which invariably result from it, prevails largely in all parts of the colony ; seeing that therefore it is necessary that steps should be taken for the repression of drunkenness, and that it would unquestionably be easier to take action now than afterwards it will be, it is resolved that this meeting do urge upon the Legislature the necessity for immediate action on their part ;” (b.) “ That in any Bill relative to the sale of drink which the Legislature may pass, the principle—with clauses to direct the working of it—of local optipn ought to be embodied, or the principle according to which the ratepayers of any borough or district shall have it in their power to say whether intoxicating drink shall be sold amongst them or not;” (c.) “That at the same time it is desirable that in whatsoever borough or district the public sale of intoxicating drink may be allowed the number of licenses to be granted shall in no case exceed the ratio of one license to every 500 (100 families) of the population (d.) “ That a petition embodying views to the

effect stated in the previous resolution's, and drawn up by Messrs. , hereby appointed a committee for that purpose, be signed by the chairman in the name of the meeting, and then forwarded to the Hon. W. Fox, for presentation to the House of Representatives, and that a copy of the petition be - sent to John Bryce, Esq., requesting him to support it.” 3. Of these resolutions the first and the second were carried without alteration—the first unanimously, the second _ all but unanimously, there being only three dissentients. 4. On the third ah amendment was proposed to the effect that “ the number of licensed houses shall be left to the option of the ratepayers,” which was carried, the motion having been withdrawn in favor of it. 5. That on the proposing of the fourth resolution, exception was taken to the words “ in the name of the meeting,” it being suggested or proposed that the meeting should be described as one called by circular, and that bn a further suggestion being made, it was agreed that it should be stated in the petition that “ the meeting had been specially convened by circular, sent to about two hundred and fifty people, of whom about two hundred were present.” 6. That no such amendment was even proposed as that you say was carried—“ An amendment stating that the meeting had been called by circular, and was not the expression of the inhabitants.” 7. That it is not true, that it is in : fact utterly untrue, that the speakers, in advocating the principle of local option, expressed themselves as opposed to Mr. Fox’s Bill. They only refrained from expression of opinion as to it, seeing that they were not required by the resolution to give utterance to any opinion. 8. That if in the sentence which begins—“At a public meeting,” you.are still referring to the Temperance Conference, you or your informant further misrepresents. We do not deny that in the course of discussion passing references were made to the “ vested interests ” of the publicans, as soma have called them—references which did indeed show that difference of opinion obtained on the point. But so far from that impression being correct which you convey—“ The point, however, was not put to the vote ” —we have to say that it did not take shape at all at the meeting. There were those at the meeting who would have gladly crossed swords with the “opposition” had they brought forward a motion in favor of the compensation of the publican. Such, sir, are the facts. And begging that you will favor us by inserting this letter in your piqier, and so correcting the false account which has appeared,—We are, &c., George Heaven-, Peter Bell, John Morgan, H. 0. Field, Rainsford Bavin, James Treadwell, conveners of the meeting. Wanganui, August 30. I certify, as Chairman of the Temperance Conference, held on the 13tb inst., that the account of it given in the above letter of the conveners is true. Dated this 30th day of August, 1877. Robert Phaeaztn.