AN EXPLANATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 137, 3 November 1914, Page 2

AN EXPLANATION.

To the Editor. Sir, —Tlio charge brought against me ky the gentleman calling himself "Fair Play" is surely due to a misunderstanding, which a few words from me may possibly clear up. Not for one moment would I cast any doubt on Mr. Maunder'a honesty or his value as a citizen, but it is none the less true that on this one question Mr; IMaunder runs amok, i and loses his sense of justice. My plea J in Synod was for a postponement of the I Prohibition question at the present time, f as one calculated to embitter the elec- ? tions. Mr. Maunder on this accused mo j of "pleading for the liquor trade and i the drink habit." Now, this is a serious > charge to bring against a man in my : position, and I think I was right in do-; scribing it as "stupid." The point of the i matter is how people would regard it.; If it were taken seriously, the imputation might do me an injury. Mr. Maunder might not intend this, but that would be the effect of his words charging a -clergyman with pleading for the drink habit. If it were not taken serioualv, then no harm would be done. This "is what I meant by the sentence on which your correspondent, "Fair Play," bases his charge of uneharity.—l am, &c., A. 11. COLVILE.