CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4286, 28 November 1892, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

"Drink, Puppy, Drink" 1 _ f] (To the Editor of the Waibabapa Daily Times,) • 1 Sir, —Those who attondea the ' Theatre Royal on Friday evening ' oujiht to have been very well satisfied ' with the equivalent which they re- ' ceivud for tlwir money, First, there ' was the lecturer. Tall, alert, spectral, ' brilliant and effective. A really good ' action; possessed of elocutionary ' powers above the ordinary; und well 1 qualified to play ou the feelings of a 1 sympathetic audience. Then there was the Chairman—the member for Masterton—in striking contrast lo the 1 lecturer, with bis rasping voice, and ' bis awkward and elephantine move- 1 raents, making a bold bid for the ; Temperance vote and at the same lituo trying to commit himself as little as possible und yet-quite unconsciously -delivering himself over into the hand, of the enemy. It is refreshing to hear, from Mr Hogg that the diink traffic is a peculiarly Tory institution, fostered by them for their own vile purposes. It is also reh'esliing to know that the Labour members, of whom Mr Hogg is so bright an ornament, are wholly addicted to tea, coffee, soup and things like that, Mr Hogg had scarcely finished his (hunt with the hounds and ran with tho hare) oration, when the man with flowing locks was on his feet administering chastisement. Sharp, judicious and severe, using Mr Hogg's own weapons, which he had so unwittingly forged against liiinsolf, as the implements of torture, And the most cruel part of the wholo thing was, the audience cheered him on, and seemed to enjoy the sport, Mr Hogg meanwhile looking on as if he . would like to pound him on the spot. When the Chaiimau rose to reply, bis temper had evidently, to a certain extent, got the better of his judgment, and his struggles to keep down the old Adam were painfully visible, It was , evident he was loosing ground, and it did not mend matters very much when a gentleman on the • platform told Mr Hogg that :he thought (he discussion had gono far enough. Ono • would | have thought that the ohairman ' would have, baen the best judge of [ that, But Mr Hogg evidently con- . sidered that he had been brow-beaten 1 enough, and so ho yielded with tho i best grace he could, leaving the 1 enemy triumphant. Now, sir, how--1 ever much one may differ in his politi- ' cal opinions fiom Mr Hogg, and 1 however much ono may condemn his ' bad taste in trying to make political j capital out of an ocoasion of that sort, j one could not help feeling a certain | . amount of sympathy for him last , evening as he sat like ono crushed, while, his advoreary confidently asi sorted that tho GoverumeDt of the • futuro would have to consult the Prohibitionists if they wished to return I their power, Quito bo 1 Wo shall ' see. In the meantime let us hope ! Mr Hogg will profit by the lesson which he has received, [tig a dan- • gt-rous thing to enter into a disoussion 1 on temperance matters with a man ' who makes his living at the business. , I am, eto, Spectator.