CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 66, 18 March 1903, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.]

LICENSING COMMIT TEE. TO THE EDiTOB. Sir, —The manifesto under this head- g ing oa Friday is marked by masterly c indefinueness. On their own showing j the five candidates are nondescript and fc not unlikely to be derelict. No colour, j no purpose, no programme. Certainly \ i nos " men who have understating o! \ their times and know what Israel ought to do." Had they published names of j those " electors" who requisitioned g their standing we might g t glint of (■ their maaning. On one point their letter casts light. A contested election f may secure 10 o'clock closing for three t years at the infioitesimal ost of Is 4|d j per day. A maximum reform at a minimum price ! Spread over Borough < and Oounty ratepayers i<; is but lh* , sinailest fr.ctioa. And if it cos"i more , let them be remitded that roa»e>ial ( issues are not everything. There is thrift in ynucg minhood as well as thrift in money. And the last hour of < the open bar is most fraught with peril ; to calonial youth. That the Oouuc lof the Churches has raised this question, and, failing its favourable answer, has 1 provided candidates pl-.dged thereto, is i in its praise. Its extntenco U thereby justified. So reasonable a modicum of , reform rallies and combines lovers of temperance' of all ehadts of opinio'. Whether crowned with success or not, ' the honour of attamp'iug and deseiving it will remain. An enormous and decisive ballot ought to be given on 'he ' 26 h marking public approval of tbe Couacil's notion and resolve to bring New Plymouth in line with soma of 'I the larger and progressive cities which \ have aheady secured th > boon. If the five who are so sympathetic with the ratepayers will p ltriotically stand aside, ' or will pledge tnis one plank of desired reform, it may not yot be too late to save the i! 33 6s 8d par year. The Council of the Cburches we know, but '•' who are the " electors "? -1 am, etc., •' John H. White. ( ° Kahotu, March 14th, 1903.