MR. GOODWIN AND SHIPPING TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1918, Page 3

MR. GOODWIN AND SHIPPING TROUBLES.

I To the Editor. Sir, —I don't know how deeply Mr Goodwin, of Hawera, may be interested in the drink trade, and I don't care, but I'll lay s "bit to nothing" that he is related to Bung and Co. at some point of the compass. However, I am quite sure Mr. Morton can deal with him alright, and I don't desire to butt in save on one point. At the end of his silly letter Mr. Goodwin drags in Mr. Lloyd George, Britain's Prime Minister and Mr. Wilson, America's President, and from their alleged utterances he, in some subtle way, seeks to gain moral support. Very well, Mr Goodwin, let us see what Mr Lloyd George did say about your sainted Trade. On March 29th, 1915, Mr Lloyd George said: "I have a growing conviction based upon accumulating evidence .that nothing but root and branch methods will be of the slightest avail in dealing with the drink evil." Also on the same occasion he said: "The feeling is that if we are to settle German militarism, we must first settle with drink." Also on the game occasion he said: "We are fighting Germany, Austria and drink, and as far as I can see the greatest of these deadly foes is drink." How do you like these few woras dear friend? As far as President Wilson is concerned, he stands at the head of a nation that has tried . "booze" at the bar of public opinion. The verdict was guilty on all counts, land the sentence was "Get out and get out at once." Now don't kick yourself, Mr Goodwin, of Hawera, for mentioning the names of the two aforesaid gentlemen. You felt you had to defend your Trade, but you don't carry any weight in your mit. You are the simplest thing in the press letter line up to date. May I in the most kindly and loving spirit counsel you to follow the example of Canada and the United States of America, and wash your hands of a traffic that your friend Mr Lloyd George says is a bigger foe to the British nation than Germany plus Austria. Do you know, Mr Goodwin, that in November, 1917, the distillers of the United Kingdom shipped thousands of casks of whisky to the United States, but Pres# dent Wilson's government refused to allow the "concentrated world's curse" to land, and it was retransported to England. This at a time when shipping transport was wanted to carry food* stuffs and necessaries to a nation in want. I could tell yo# a lot more that you don't know, Mr Goodwin, but News' space forbids. In the meantime my advice to you is, keep away from newspaper controversy in defence of Bung and Co. You are not built for it. You don't seem to know when your„opponent is sitting in front of you with a "routine ace high flush." Get out now before the weather breaks. There are stormy times ahead for Bung and Co. Thunder, lightning, waterspouts, etc. Ask some intelligent friend to esplain this letter to you.—l am, etc., W. H. HAWKINS, Captain ex N.Z.E.F. Okato, 25th June, 1918. !