Moderation.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3873, 30 July 1891, Page 3

Moderation.

[To the Editor.]

Sib, —If you are weak, abuse the other side. These appear to be Pro-1 hibitionist's tactics. He descends into personal abuse because bis weakness is apparent, lie is afraid to declare his party's platform for very manifest reasons. Says Messrs Walker and Pownall are of the calf species, eh! and adds, " we will nut huut them." Hunt them ! Start it, my friend, and see what sort of a time you'll have ? Let me refer my braggart friend Prohibitionist to iEsop's fable of the wolf and the calf. The wolf (emblematical of Prohibitionist) went sneaking round the calfs heels, and in consequence got a kick in the jaw that gave him neuralgia for a week. Let Prohibibitionist tale a moral from this tale, and preserve from injury his back teethr if he has any. The latter is doubtful, as he appears to be all jaw, like a sheep's head. The bogey with which Prohibitionist seeks to frighten the ratepayers is drink, drink, drink. We are agreed upon the evil of drink, but why does not Prohibitionist emerge boldly from his shell and show thfi ratepayers how his party the evil. His party dare these questions which important to the ratepayers ; Do the Prohibitionists propose all the hotels, and if so how do they intend to prevent the establishment of clubs, the sale of liquors by breweries, the establishment of hotels within a stone's throw of the town, and the enriching of outside merchants, who spend nothing here, bv the wholesale importation of liquors ? 2nd. If they do not propose to close all the hotels, which do they propose to close ? and why do they wish to enrich the remaining hotels by such an action ? 3rd. How do they propose to make up the enormous deficiency in the revsnue of the Borough which njust ensue from the closing of the hotels, £SOO per annum at least, to be made up by 350 ratepayers ? Do they honestly tell people that their rates will be doubled when they go round with their sing, song? Let them answer these questions honestly and fairly. If not, tliey do not deserve the support of a single ratepayer. Is any ratepayer foolish enough to trust his property and his pocket in the hands of mien who are afraid (there is no other word for it), afraid to declare their policy. Whether the moderate party are right or wrong, they have at any rate shown the people what they are tp vote for, and every ip ftn who possesses an atom of common sense ought to support them i

if for that reason alone. There is just one more little question I would like to ask Prohibitionist. It is said that one of the strong supporters of his party has shares in a working men's Club, and draws a revenue from them, that is, from the sale of drink amongst other matters. It) this true, Prohibitionist ? Pony it if you can, and we will accept v- ur simple denial. If you do not, it, )Our party will nnd useli in the wrong box with theratepajeis. You know, so you had better f-ee about it. If your party is afraid to put its policy straight before the ratepayers, or Prohibitionist is afraicl to auswer the questions 1 have put, let him indulge in a little more slang. It hides a multitude of sms, and does his party a great deal of harm in the eyes of sensible men. So go on, my friend, spout on if it does your gigantic mind any good. Bat if you or your party wish to reinstate yourselves in the opinion of the ratepayers, drop such infantile tactics, muster up all the Dutch courage you possess, and let the ratepayers judge you is they ought to judge you, on your intentions and principles. Don't leave it till Sunday evening, but let us have it, where all can read and canvass. Fetch your heart out of your boots friend, and let us have something to vote for.—l am, &c., A. Walker, Secretary Moderation Committee.