CAPTAIN HAWKINS AND THE TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1918, Page 6

CAPTAIN HAWKINS AND THE TRADE.

(Jo the Editor.) Sir; —i-our Stratford correspondent in yesterday's issue o£ the News chronicles the startling fact that the whole of the Stratford Trade held a meeting and passed a resolution branding me as a most unreliable person and furthermore, declaring that the Stratford Band is not now and never has' toe en under the thumb of "the Trade." No doubt the resolution was passed unanimously to the accompaniment of "tinkling glass and popping cork." Sir, who and what is this Trade anyhow? They pass resolutions and fire off £IOO challenges, but the whole sorry business m anonymous. Not a name mentioned. No leaders, no rank and file, no nothing." I would advise these liquor champions in the most friendly spirit, to, in future, sign their precious resolutions and challenges. If this » not done people say nasty, spiteful things. Therefore, liquor men, in future sign, your names like men who are unashamed of their job. If you don t, I shall be compelled to spank you hard, and I hate being unkind to men, so many of whom, apart from their jab, are good fellows, ... Re this resolution business, Sir, will you allow me to inform the anonymous trade in Stratford that I never made the statement they charge against me. What I did say was "That the refusal of the Stratford Band (a public body subsidised by municipal and public funds) to play for a branch • of a worldwide organisation such as the W.Ul.u., even after the band's fee was guaranteed, constituted a public scandal. Inirthermore I stated that "knowmg the liquor traffic methods so well, 1 was quite sure if it were possible to get a peep behind tho scenes, the slimy hands of the liquor traffic would be found. I also made some reference to the traffic presenting bands witli instruments, drums, etc., and striving in other ways well known to the intelligent public, to make its evil influences felt. In addition, 1 distinctly remember stating that my remarks did not apply to all the members of the Stratford Band. They do, of course, apply to all the trade champions. The crafty reference in the anonymous resolution to "my (alleged) refusal to retract the statement, and that my statement was proved undue, is worthy _ot the worst type of liquor champion. As a matter of fact, I have never been asked to retract and would not hav® retracted because I believe the statement to be absolutely true, and moreover the general public know its true, and, what is morej tthe anonymous liquor champions know its true. For downright brazen hypocrisy, cant, craft and false pretences, commend mc to the champions of thi3 wretched traffic. What has the trade got to cry about, anyhow? You cannot touch them but they scream with simulated indignation and splash the landscape w>ith their crocodile tears, because they allege some citizen has had the temerity to attack the trado that lias proved such a boon and blessing to the world. Yet, Sir, one has a lot to be thankful for after all. Surely, either I am let down lightly or my address at Stratford was a masterpiece. For nearly an hour and a half I was dealing with the traffic in strong drink and its unholy record, and apparently f+"+nwpnt T made during that hour and a half, the truth of which the Stratford trade challenges, is that touching the Sfautford "Band. Allow me to give one sample, Sir. I stated during tho address under review, that ,; I considered the liquor traffic to be the most unprincipled, the moot lawless, the most unscrupulous, the dirtiest, the most degrading, and the most home and soul destroying traffic on God's earth." Evidently the "Stratford trade" pleads guilty to this indictment or surely it would have been questioned ere this. You see, Sir, whether the band played that night or never plays again; whether the trade has its thumb on tho band or not, does not affect the great question at issue. The question to be decided Tjy the people is whether the liquor traffic, judged by its record, has a right to live. Bah! lam side to death of tho trade's cant and hypocrisyWhy dont these men deal with essentials? Condemn the grocery trade, the soft goods trade or any trade bar the drink trade and immediately a thousand champions arise in defence, but challenge the right of tliU liquor traffic to exist; prove up to the hilt that it is ji. parasite on legitimate business, and tlic trade howls for quarter, but you cannot drag its defenders out into the open. Tf the trade doijs not feel satisfied with this reply to their canting resolution, I suppose I shall be compelled to visit Stratford once moTG and have another more searching, heart to heart talk with the weeping dismals who profess to feel so injured and indignant. To be compelled to visit Stratford again, at thii risk of hurting "the Trade's" feelings, fills me with unutterable terror.—T am, etc., W. H. HAWKINS. Okato, 31st June.