NOTES BY "ARATAPU OBSERVER."

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 216, 22 September 1893, Page 2

NOTES BY "ARATAPU OBSERVER ."

It has been said by some that the way to get round a woman is by praising her children, and possibly this is what Cr. Dargavilie had in view when he brought forward the matter of the Heawa drain and spoke ef the dear little children being exposed to danger by the open state of the drain. It would, however, he advisable for this young gentle man to stick to the Council (if he can) and ■worry round to get seconders to resolutions before he thinks of posing as a man worth j£24o a year from his country. In introducing the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill the Hon. B. Seddon said : ‘ Sir, it has been said in this House that as a result of our liquor traffic and trade, there have been poverty, degradation, vice and crime. Sir, I think that is taking an extreme view. It would in Borne instances be perfectly true, but I do not think it can be laid down as a general principle or be accepted on the whole. I think that statements of that kind —statements which are not entirely correct —do harm.’ The honorable gentleman is evidently either very blind, very biassed and therefore an extremist, or a man who reads very little of the daily life of the people. Why even in Aratapu, where we have a highly respectable house, well conducted and so forth, I could prove that poverty, degradation, vice and have resulted from the traffic. Only last wt two men. living not far from each other, left u.. e * lo * :e late one evening and when neai their horned started fighting. The daughter of one of them endeavoured to part them by taking the father’s part, and then the wife of the other joined in and struck the daughter. The latter then got a broom and sailed for the wife and disfigured her face pretty Severely. All this was not done quietly but amidst great outcries. Picture that scene Mr Premier in a small community like this and let me know if you still think the statement in the House was not entirely correct, and if you are not satisfied I can give you plenty more proof from Aratapu history.