THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3042, 12 November 1908, Page 5

THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR.

THE GREAT ISSUE BEFORE THE ELECTORS. (To the Editor). Sir,— Many men having the welfare of Masterton at heart, and desiring the good of their fellows, are still in doubt as to how they should vote on the great social question which comes he fore electors on the 17th instant. This is not altogether to be wondered at when we hear from the rival forces conMicting statements about No-License in other towns. Rut we should not lose sight of this fact: that those who ;ivo lighting for License are animated by a love for gold and they who battle for NoLicense are guided by purely patriotic and philanthropic motives.

Leaving business out of the question, if it were possible for any elector seeking the truth to walkthrough the main thoroughfare of Invercargill, and then through Queen Street, Masterton, on a Saturday night, I am inclined to think the open bars would have a short life in this electorate. Ido not hesitate to say that in walking half the length of Queen Street any day of the week one could see more evidence of drink than would be met in six months in Invercargill. What more conclusive evidence do we want than the statement of Police Inspector Mitchell, which was published the other day. I was in Invercargill at the time the Inspector declared that No-License had been "a crowning success" and 1 know that he was backed up by strong public sentiment.

I am not going to sny there is no drinking in Invercargil!. This would be absurd. Many men who were accustomed to drink in License days still get it to so'/n3 extent. What I do maintain is that with the temptation of the open bar removed, the young men are growing up with a nobliT ambition, and the rapidly disappearing drunkards' army is not being recruited. Only recently I was informed that there were nearly thren hundred arrests for drunkenness in Masterton last year, and also that on a recent Saturday night fifteen hundred persons (a fair pcrcentae of wlxm unfortunately, were young men) entered the Masterton hotels in two hour,-'. Then, again, there is the signiikmt fact that in the Masterton licensing district nearly sixty Prohibition oi'Jeri are now in existence Surely this is a grave reflection on cur allegedly sober community. Is the issue of all these compulsory restraints a factor in the commercial prosperity of Masterton, which it is alleged, will be irretrievably wrecked by the removal ot temptation—a temptation that to many, unfortunately, has proved irresistible, to follow the downward grade that ends in hopeless physical ruin and social degradation? It would not be possible for the ablest writer to pen a more telling argument than these plain facts in favour of No-Licer.se. —I am, etc., R. BURGESS, Genera! Secretary, Y.M.C.A. A FALSE CHARGE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln an advertisement appearing in the Wairarapa Age, the liquor party indiscreetly charge the NoLicense party with concealing certain facts regarding the results ot No-License in Ashburton.

Now, everyone knows that the NoLicense party have concealed nothing regarding Ashburton or any other No-License electorate. They have no need to. The results arc all in their favour. The No-License party have at various times published all the facts and figures available and also brought the Rev. E. Whitehouse, Anglican Clergyman, to Maaterton from Ashburton to give electors all possible information. The liquor party's charge therefore is absolutely untrue and unwarranted. This and other misrepresentations which have been exposed only serve to prove that the liquor party have not an argument that will stand investigation. The public want something more substantial than "liquor facts," they want the truth and the liquor party should be prepared to give proof of such statements as they have made.

Questions regarding any NoLicense electorates arc invited at Mr Bedford's meeting to-night. If there is any information that the liquor party want their advocate is invited to question Mr Bedford. He will get honest and truthful replies even if they'are-. in favour of the trade. Wo do not fear the closest investigation, we want all the facts to be as widely known as possible. —I am etc., J. BRIDGES.

MR HUNTER'S MONUMENTS

(To the Editor)

Sir,—l would not write you in defence of Mr Hunter's candidature were it not for tho fact that Mr Hogg has been doing his best to make his opponent look as small as possible in the estimation of tho electors, If I consulted my own

feelings I should certainly say: "Let each candidate fight his own battles, and let the electors exercise their own private judgment, and record a conscientious vote." But when Mr Hogg tries to make himself look big at the expense of making Mr Hunter look small, then, I think, any elector is justified in trying, through the columns of the Press, to place the merits of his candidate before the electors. Jdo this, Sir, not with the object of saying anything offensive of Mr Hogg, but with the object of defending Mr Hunter against those unjust references which Mr Hogg made at his Kuripuni meeting. It is'true that Mr Hunter is not so j well-known as the member for Masterton, but every man must make his debut, and it does not take some men long to make a name. Mr Hunter is a splendid example of the truth oi this statement, and he has climbed the ladder of public respect step by step, in a short space of time. ' He has been elected to a scat on the Borough Council by a large vote. Mr Hogff asks: "Where are his monuments?" This question might be put to many politicians, and echo answers "Where?" If some men with years of political experience have failed to erect any monuments, those whose political experience is a minus quantity can hardly be expected to do so. A man can only erect monuments in proportion to his opportunities. As a colonist, a citizen, and business man, Mr Hunter has been a success. From the worker to the employer, from the employer to the independent man, and from the independent man to the politician are only successive steps in the evolutionary process, and the same qualities which make the successful citizen, namely, energy, sound judgment, careful administration and patriotism will also make the successful politician. Mr Hunter starts his political career with everything in his favour. He has climbed the ladder of business success, and possessed of strong patriotic instincts he is in a position to devote all his time and energy to the requirements of his constituents. As an employee he can help the workers to solve those problems which have caused politicians so much anxiety. As an employer he is in touch with the labour questions of the day, and as an independent man he can give an unbiassed verdict between the two parties. Mr Hogg asks. "Where are his iwnuments?" Let me point to a few more, namely, the erection of the Exchange and Dominion buildings in our towr; also, the Town HaV, Wellington, one of the finest buildings in the Dominion, a splendid monument of Mr Hunter's energy, enterprise and constructive ability. Having erected the above monuments as a private citizen Mr Hunter need not apologise for wooing the Masterton electors. He has qualified himself for the political life and politics will be no picnic with him. He is too hard a grafter, and too serious a man to tool away his time, and if the electors give him the opportunity, I am certain he will devote his best energies to their interests, and the same character!-tics which have made him a good citizen will also make him a good politician, and to the monument) of his private life will be added the monuments of his political life. —I am, etc., K. RIGG.