THOSE DEPUTATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 39, 6 July 1914, Page 7

THOSE DEPUTATIONS.

To tlie Editor, f Sir, —Mr Massey to?d tihe deputation j of liquor dealers that "fairplay would Ibe given to both side 9." The question is, what sides? And how are they formed? The public fee two deputations'; the first led by a merchant, a lawyer, a minister of religion, and a philanthropic lady, and' all well known in their various circles. They are not sentimentalists, as one of the trade [ says; they are speaking to suppress a crying evil that has hitherto defied all attempts at regulation; they have nothing to gain, as their opponents say, for if new taxation is levied tomake up for the loss of tile liquor revenue, tliip.y 1 stand to lose. We are sometimes fold that there are three 1 parties in the contest—the so-called great moderate 1 party being the third party. Now, if ■ that be so, tfhy does not this party of - moderation approach the Govern-' ' ment and ask for justice and i fair play? It would be interesting to ' see who would stand out to represent ■ thenr, The second deputation was ! had bv a wine and spirt merchant ,a. ! brewer's (representative, a licensed retailor, and another whose oWupation ! is not indicated, and eim only be guess- ■ ed by the company he is in. A'? tiheee, 1 as assured by tlfc Prime Minister, are J to have fair play. That is something to have that assurance from so high an 1 authority. Hitherto, it has not "been ' fair play. It is though as in an na- ■ tionai trading company, after carry--1 ing on for many years, t'-r tO ' ■' a < certain department , ...... i : 1 .v.i'i •, 1 as,; IVv r n- : ■ i:>S i; •-( .do wlla' . r: 1 cb a di.l'ion tliev ii;> i;, vv',l ■*' for giving up this uui ■ • i.y «-- ' and 206,<i(!l for contiVii't'; it- a ' n.jnr--1 ity of 54,28-2 in favor ul giving it up. Mow in such a case, everyone would say ' that_ the majority mikt decidei the j. c|uestion; and yet, 'because it is not , exactly a trading company but a na- ) t.ional matte;', the. minority tihirek that " tliev ought to rule. That, sir. is not J ' FAIRPLAY.