THE REV. MR MATHER AND THE PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 39, 8 October 1896, Page 3

THE REV. MR MATHER AND THE PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

TO TIIK KDITOII. Sn:,—ln Tuesday's i sec of Thk Aimm's there appeared a lcttci from the facile pen of Mr Fitzpatriok, of Cambridge, re certain rcmii'ks mido by in-j at the last meeting of the Par'iamentary Union. Allow inc in the fir.-t place to state that. I did nit say "t! at half of the relief given in the Waikato by the I'huitahle Aid Board found its w.ey over t'ae lur of fie public house." I aflirmed that the system of charitable aid in a young colony like New Zed,mil was becoming a great curse, an 1 even in fie Waikalo, money given in char table aid found its way over the hotel bar. The statement ■was not contradicted or challenged, and I have yet to learn that it is contrary to fact. 1 will give your renders my reason for making such an assertion. Some time ago I was travelling from Iluutly to Hamilton. I Hopped at Ngaruiwahia toli-iv my hose shod, ami I had not I) en many minutes in lint township, when T witnessed a sight which Mas enough to make an angel weep. An aged woman Mas standing in ft out of the Town Hill in a state of drunkenness in the middle of the afternoon. Hie was surrounded by the small hoys of the town, and the language .Ti i poured forth cm hi belter imagined than described. The constable was near at hand, ami he displayed a good deal of kindness ;v d patience towards lur. but L w.is all in vain. There was no limit to her flow of language, and the constable at last lnilcd a carter who was passing along the road. He threw his arms round the ; kirts of the poor old woman, and lifted her bodily into the or', The carter whipped up his team, and the sad procession went towards the old woman's home, fo'lowed by a troiip of boys. I made the remark to the blacksmith that I had never witnessed a sadder sight in t* is colony, and asked hhn if the o'd woman was addicted to drink. This was his reply, " She always goes on the ' burst' when she receives her charitable aid money." If it is correct that such characters only* receive rations, I contend that if the)' can provide money to pay for liquor they can provide their own rations. This is only one leaf from my ■ rote-hook, hut lean give more if they aie leipi'ned. When I spoke at the Parliamentary Union, I had no thought of the publicans, I have not as much animus toward them, as Mr Fitzpatrick seems to have toward the church of iiiy intelligent choice, and which I have the honour to represent. But, I don't hesitate for one moment to allirm that I lute the trade in which publican* are engaged, with all the hatred of which my nature is capable. feme of my own relatives have fallen victims to this overflowing scourge, and the iron has ctteicd into my soul. 'J he writer's sneer against the Methodist Church is as harmless as a snow II ke, but I would remind him that she pro. duces less crime in proportion to her i.nmbcts than any ether huge denomination in this colony, and I have reason to believe she receives less money in charitable aid. Ido not know a single bona tide Methodist in the YVaikato who is in receipt of relief. There nay he several, lutldo in t know them. but this Ido know, that veiy few Mcthodi-ts avail themselves (f tie benefits to bo obtaiued at ihe Waikato Hospi'al at the expense af the ratepayers. The llosjvtal administration is a hute system of charitable aid, tor the board seems powerless to recover the money spent on many of the patients who hnvo passed through its wards, and ihe fact that the Waikato Hospi'al is the most eo tly institution of its k : ud in the colony, proves conclusively that there is something rotten in the state of Denmark. Cue void more. A gentleman from Cambridge informed me on Tuesday that Mr' Fitzpatrick (the author of the letter in Tuesday's issue of Tin: Annus) is in receipt of charitable aid. 1 have lunl no opportunity of confirming this statement, hut if it is collect, I can quite understand him raisins the cry of l)i mitiitis, " Our rations are in danger," Apologizing for trespassing so much on your space. —I am, etc., J. J. Matueb.