GOOD TEMPLARS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1731, 9 July 1884, Page 2

GOOD TEMPLARS.

Tom Editor, Bead Sir,—So the Phoenix Lodge of Good Templatß have decided to support Mr W. W. MoOardle, Why have they done this I ask! Because he has given them a satisfactory answer to their pledges ? Eeally Sir, I cannot believe that a body of men would come to a decision like that without mature consideration, not only of his willingness to suppress the liquor traffic; but also as to whether he is a lit and proper person to represent us as a whole. If one Society was to fight against another, each wanting their own httle weaknesses attended to, what would become of the colony as a whole 1 That apparently could go to ruin as far as the Phoenix Lodge was concerned. No, sir, it is a mistake for one particle of the community to throw itself away like that. Mr Holdaway asked tho question of Mr Bosthttm, and got a very fair reply in return, and I believe that ho would help them as far as he conscientiously could, but, no matter i what his other'qualifications are, " he won't' give us his word to totally abolish the liquor traffic, so wo won't give him our vote," That, sir, seems the gist of argument, I should have liked to have heard Mr McCardie give his answer on the public platform, not give it in " a hole and corner fashion," then to have been asked to express his views by those vile creatures, the beer drinkers, whether he would supnort the cancellation oE the beer duty, f suppose he would turn to them and "give them satisfactory pledges on the beer duty question," and so seoure their votes also I Although Mr Beethain is thoroughly qualified to serve the whole community, including the Good Templars, they would run after a novice jiwt because he promises to attend to their little whims, Ihey had better elect the best man and then, after the electioneering bustle is over, send a deputation to him, that the matter can he coolly discussed, and if anything could be done without interfering with the interests of the majority of his constituents, there is no doubt but that it would be done, I am &c„ Quiz,