Moderation.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3871, 28 July 1891, Page 2

Moderation.

[to the editob.] Sir.—No man should attempt to force his ideas down the throats of others and then abuse them if they refuse to accept his dogmas. Are we still in the darkened days of centuries past, when men were roasted and tortured lor refusing to accept the prevailing religion by those who professed that religion, or are we in a free country, as we have so often heard boasted, where men are free to think and act*alone ? The Frohibi* sionist says: "Ifyou vote for our party you vote against drink; if you vote for the other party you are voting for drink." This is an exaggerate n that could only be formed of their own heated imaginations. And moreover, beguiled by this specious argument macy a ratepayer was, no doubt, led into voting for the Prohibitionist party at the last election. It ought to be clearly understood that the Moderate party are not for drink, Could the sale of drink be stopped at the fountain head by the Legislature the matter might be different, and the object of many gained, but until then it is the duty of the Committee to administer the law as they find it, that is to so ourb and govern the evil as to keep it within bounds. The moderate party are not afraid to declare their platform. They wish to give justice to all, and at the same time to preserve, if possible, the value of property, and the revenue of the place. This is their platform : 1, To hear every matter brought before them conscientiously, and not to be prejudiced or biassed. 2. To keep every public house in the borough under the strictest police supervision. 3. To olose every publio house in the borough justly shown to be disorderly or unfit for public use, or of which the owner is guilty of breaches of the law. 4. To insist upon every public house in the borough being so kept as to be a credit to the township. And what is the platform of the Prohibitionists ? Some say it is to close all the hotels (and thus double the borough rates'), others say it is to close two hotels and leave the other four. Some agree with the sermon of the Rev Mr Dukes, which was very modeiate, and not in any way ill judged, others seem to disagree. What is their platform ? How do they propose to aot? Amid all the talk and blather, all the gush from the Prohibitionist pen, can we fix upon one firm statement as to their policy ? We challenge them to deolare it, —the publio want to know and not to vote in the dark. What did the last Committee do during their annual sittmg ? Did they

inspect a single house ? Did they insist on any single repair to any of the houses ? Did they do any act which as a Licensing Committee they ought to have done ? Let eaoL ratepayer answer these questions for himself or herself. With the exception of Mr Heron the rest had it all out and dried like a lot of more porks on a perch. But people' eyes are opened and they will not stand any nonsense. Let each side drop bitter feeling and cant, and declare definitely what thoir intentions are, then let all well thinking people choose between them upon their deolared policy. Rally up, Prohibitionist, gird up your loins and let's hear what your intentions or those of your party are, and stick your name at tho bottom. Don't funk it now. Come on! There is the gauntlet.

A. Walkkk, Secretary Moderate Committee, Mas tor ton.