Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1911. A DISCREDITABLE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10192, 20 March 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1911. A DISCREDITABLE EXHIBITION.

]JFhe demonstration' made in Master-' .j.ton on Saturday night was not. erei diisble^;to? the community, 1 Itjsaid ,very little for .the sense of fairplay,.: of a large body of boasted Britishers that they denied a (hearing to a reputable visitor when he attempted to defend the town against what- he regarded.as a cruel and unwarrantable impeachment. Whatever opinions may be entertaineu concerning the wisdom of closing the open bar —and the people have been given a right to determine this issue at the proper time and place—there can be no justification whatever for the circulation of exaggerated statements concerning the depression which exists in this town. ' Can any good purpose be .served , by announcing to .the world that trade is-paralysed, and,that the whole place is ' on > the verge of bankruptcy, which, of course, it is not? Is <such, an announcement calculated to strengthen the position of those "who may require accommodation from the merchant or the Bank? Will it assist in bringing trade or population to the town? These questions require no answer. It is very much to be deplored that a stranger to the district should have found it necessary to protect the town against such baseless and damaging statements. And it is astounding to find that quite a number of people were prepared to allow the base report to remain unchallenged, or, at anyrate, denied) a; hearing to one who, after being asked for a public explanation, proceeded to give. Tb in an honest and fearless manner. We repeat that the question of License or No-license does not enter into the discussion when the reputation of the town and the credit of its busi- , ness men is at stake. - Any attempt to "foul the riest," or to cast odium upon those 'engaged in legitimate trading enterprises, should be sharply resented. For this reason, Mr Bedford deserves the thanks of all

sections of the trading community, whether advocates of License or Nolicense, for his vigorous defence of the town against a damaging misstatement of facts.