POOR ARGUMENTS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12649, 10 November 1905, Page 7

POOR ARGUMENTS.

To the (Editor. «

Sir, —iMr James Harper's letter, which in your issue of the 7th inst., cal's for some comment. Mr Harper -balks of mud-slinging >by the Liquor partisans on Saturday night last on th© occasion of.-the open air "prohibition" meeting, but he doesn't say anything about the attacks that are and 'have been made on the lawful and legitimate liquor trade. I "was present at that meeting and saw no mud slinging (either In its literal or figurative sense) or orange throwing. If such "a thing did happen it certainly was not by or through any instrumentality on the part of the licensed victuallers. The hotel"keepeivs •were present at that meeting for the sale purpose of preventing or checking abuse, vilification, -and rash

statements, such as have been indulged in by more than one of the prohibition party's champions, the most pronounced and scurrilous of which -were the utterances at the Opera House recently. These fanatic " Yes-no-don't-know-what-•fchey-want" lecturers must be taught that we love and respect our wives asd children just as much as most other people do, and we are not going to stand 'by and hear them scandalised and vilified without entering a determined and vigorous protest. (Mr Harper says we were beaten on every point. Now what really happened -was this: The several speakers simply raved the old stock ravings that we have heard scores of times before. General statements were made ■which iare absolutely contrary to facts, .and which cannot be verified. Haw on earth Mr Harper can have arrived at his conclusion I cannot understand. —I aon, etc., J. ,S. PALMER, President Licensed Victuallers' Association.. Wanganui, November 8, 1905.