THE DIRECT VETO MEETING IN GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2532, 22 July 1893, Page 4

THE DIRECT VETO MEETING IN GERALDINE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —I was away from home for a few days, hence the delay in replying to some of the speakers at that meeting. For instance, Mr Hammond said he saw outside one of the hotels two persons preaching, when a drunken man came out from tlie house and said to those preaching, “You move away from hero. We are just having a quiet game of cards and a drink for ourselves, and w© are not going to be annoyed by you ” Now if such did happen, was he certain the drunken man was telling the truth ? and if he was drunk, where was the consfable ? Geraldine is not such a large place as all that. lam a resident of Geraldine, and I don’t think I have seen a man drunk for the last twelve mouths. Supposing such to be the truth, does the licensee of the said house hold a license at present? Ho wouldn’t like to acknowledge he does not. Then see Mr Colin McKenzie’s speech. He says Judge Deunistoun put the wrong interpretation on the Licensing Act, which was afterwards upheld in the Supreme Court in Wellington; but Messrs McKenzie, Hammond & Co. know more law than the three Judges. I don’t mind the Prohibitionists as men, but when they stoop to mean, lying devices, I abhor them. For instance, look at last Saturday’s Guardian, where the secretary of the Good Templars writes contradicting what Mr Hammond said at the meeting. When this letter appears no doubt Prohibitionists will say, “ Oh, the author is a publican or someone connected with the liquor ring,” but I can assure them he is not, directly or indirectly, but only likes to see justice done to all.—l am, etc., A Resident. July 18th, 1893.