CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1915, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

OTHER MATTERS-fIS KITCHENER RIGHT? To Tlic Editor. Sir, —Unfortunately for the illogical arguments of Mr. Maunder, whose invitation to reply, subject to your sanction, sir, I reluctantly accept, the temperance writers he names are not running the war. Lord Kitchener is, and if he is wrong, then, as the song says, "he keeps on doing it, doing it,'' because the chairman of the Dock and Warehouse Committee, Port of London Authority, just tells us that in August ]O,OOO puncheons of rum (1,000,000 gallons) were landed (five times the usual quantity) and is being bottled for the troops. Just think of that! One million gallons, or six million bottles, or seventy million drinks for one month! And what do the troops say; the men who are up to their knees in water? It is, their opinions we want, not those of armchair theorists who never get their feet wet, who sit in plush-covered seats amidst comfortable Hi •curies, with tea, coffee, hot and cold milk, and everything they want at their elbow. Well, these wet and perishing men in the trenches say (vide, the French Alphabet, which someone sent me two days ago) "R stands for Rum, which saves our lives," so it is only foolishness to quote irrelevant Arctic, Antarctic, Finnish, or Boer experiences after that. Mr. Maunder gets a had fall when he says, "I did not introduce private names; Mr. W. did that." Lieutenant Oakev's letter appeared in the press hefore I saw it, and I know too much about the decencies of debate to do so; but to deny this introduction of private names is an attempt to shuffle out of trouble. Then he changes the scene to the King Country. If I followed this matter up (for I am at home there), and told you what I saw there lately, it would take .columns of your paper; but it would bring the death of men like Movnihan to the doors of those who persist in continuing the present homicidal policy of preventing men getting reasonable refreshments, so that it is either a gorge or poison drinking with them.

I really think that Mr. Maunder's friends would act wisely in advising him to discontinue this discussion. Like in the Sydney and Emden engagement, I carry too many guna for him. I have him completely cornered, for he has to .give a yes or no answer to my question. If he says Kitchener is wrong, then he is "up against it," and I should pity an} one who told K. so. Suppose, for instance, a deputation, consisting of the eminent authorities quoted bv Mr. Maunder, and last, but not least, that gentleman himself, waited on K. of K. to convert him, the Kitchener eye would suddenly transfix the spokesman. Then it would be, \M V lord, T—that is—we— My lord—l—l—l." Paralysis of the tongue would ensue, an A.D.C. would bow them out, and K. would resume writing. And to say "No, K. is not wrong," i 3 against Mr. Maunder's religion.—l am, etc., W. R. WRIGHT.' Rahotu, October 30,