A MEASLY MOB.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 8 December 1906, Page 8

A MEASLY MOB.

TO THE EDITORi Siir (—Kindly allow me space m your widely read paper to refer to a deputation of the Prohibition party which waited on the Premier at the railway station on the arrival of the express train at Ashburton on November 28. Their object was the removing of our magistrate, Mr Wray, S.M. The deputation was headed by the Mayor of Ashburton, Mr H. Davis, an expublican, who-held a license m Ashburton for 12 years. His hotel was commonly called the war office. The suggestion of the deputation was that their prohibition party think that Mr Wrav is not severe enough on sly grog shops m As'bburton. In my opinion he is a very fair and just man and won't be led by either side. He often reserves his decision m these cases to interview his brother magistrates before giving his decision. I would like to point out that he simply gives his verdict by the weight of evidence. For instance, a resident of Fairfield was. recently fined £50 for keeping liquor for sale and yet no sale being proved. Another case, last Friday, for selling . a shilling's worth of whisky to a girl, £50 and costs. Another case, a voun<t man, was recentW fined £30 for selling bottles of whisky at a country sale ; he could not pay the fine so he had to go to eraol foiv six weeks. Another case was that of a storeman at Tinwald, who was recently fined £40 and costs ; another charge against him was dismissed. Yet another young man who had been m the Salvation Army for five years, was fined £30 for selling beer.; he. too. could not pay the ' fine, and received one month. A boardinghousekeeper was fined £30; he could 'hot nay, so took six weeks m gaol instead. This same individual again was fined £50 or two months, and again took it out. A boardinghousekeeper was fined £30 ; he paid it, but since, for a second offence, got no option but served two months. There are many more cases top numerous to mention, yet m face of all- these the cold water party, headed by the Mayor, have the front to meet the Premier, to try and shift an honest, straight and able magistrate. To mv mind Mr Wray is one of the most fair-minded and unbiassed magistrates m the colony, but the Prohibition party want a magistrate made to oirder. if a person is brought up on suspicion the prohibition fiends are so hot that though there may be no evidence against him they argue that as long as he is brought before the Court fine him * £50. I might -say that a very prominent member of this Prohibition party sold more sly grog than all the sly grog shops m Ashburton, by Sunday trading, which was his harvest. A constant flow into his hotel every Sunday. and that's the cause that carried no-license m Ashburton. Now he turns around and sides with the Prohibition party.— Yours etc., FARMER. Ashburton, Nov. 28, 1906. „,_,