THE NEW CABINET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 81, 2 April 1912, Page 6

THE NEW CABINET.

(To the Editor “Stratford Post.”) Sir, —Your No-license correspondent is not very consistent when ho objects to my letter appearing over a non de plume while lie himself docs likewise. However, he is consistent enough to belong to the No-license party. His sneer -at Mr Myers i.s also in keeping with No-license, tactics. As to his precious reference to J.P.’s I think ft is more than likely that he is a J.P. himself, and I am much mistaken if such is not the case. 1 know of a number of licensees who would do a great deal more justice to the office of Justice of Peace than some who now hold that distinction. Tne following editorial from tue “Lyttelton Times” may .be of some interest, sir, to the readers of your valuable paper:—ln reply to a correspondent, who wrote strong protesting against the inclusion of Mr A. M. Myers in' the new Cabinet, the- “Lyttelton Times” says editorially: “Our correspondent is a little unreasonable when he urges that Mr A. M. Myers should be excluded from the now Ministry .because he happens to be ‘a powerful brewer.’ Of course, it is a very dreadful thing in the eyes of our Prohibition friends for a politician to be a powerful brewer -or any other sort of brewer, but brewing is a perfectly, legitimate trade, and ti man cannot be denied a place in the public life of the country simply because he makes beer any more than he could he if he made boots or sausages. Happily, the decision whether the brewer shall remain ipj business in New Zealand does not rest with members of Parliament, blit' with the people themselves, and jjt ; must be said for Mr Myers that he has never shown the slightest inclination to interfere with the rights of the people in this respect. He is one of the most broad-minded members ,of the House of Representatives, as well as one of the most popular, and it is more than unjust to suggest that his business prevents him taking 1 an unbiased view of a great national problem. Our correspondent impliek that 4he majority' Vote in favour of. National Prohibition entitles the Nolicense party to a monopoly of the seats in the Cabinet, but with all our sympathy for the cause of temper-' ance, we should he extremely sorry to, see the Government of the country entrusted to a Ministry formed on this narrow basis.”—l am, etc., HAIB PLAY. Stratford, April 2nd, 1912.