CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4417, 13 May 1893, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Star Hotel. [To the Editor W.D. Times.] Sin,—l cannot belp feeling surprised at tlio letters the Rev. John Dukes has recently published in your columns, because they show that the rev, gentleman is so fanatically inclined in the cause of Prohibition as to lose all sense of justico or fairnesß. Assuming for a moment that the rev, gentleman is correct in the facta he states, is be so ignorant of those rules and constitutions preservingtho liberty of the subject, which say that every man, no matter how low his degree, shall have a fair trial on any charge, unbiassed by anything except what is produced in evidence against bim ? as to commit such gross errors as in bis lotters in question, What are tho Rev. Mr Dukes' notions of a fair hearing ? Firstly, to bias the Licensing Committee agaia ' e publican's application tho Act says distinctly is tiTbTIY.H and determined, judicially by the Committee, by letters which assume and assert the guilt of the publican, although founded on a caso where the publican was not represented, and in view of the fact that the publican has yet to be heard in bis own defence I Secondly, by the same lettorß,to assert and assume that the publican is guilty of an offence of allowing gambling in the house al a time when tho publioan is under summons for the alleged offence, when he is still to be heard on his own behalf, and when tho proper judicial tribunal has yet to decide as to the truth of tho charge or otherwise. These being the tenets of religion, as to a fair trial, according to tho Rev, John Dukos, what are his notions of common decency ? To allow a savago attack on the hotel and against the granting of tho license to be published tho day after the licensee has met his death, and while his unfortunate widow is in the most exirome distress naturally caused by the occurrence. Surely the delay of a few days could have been spared by a religionist, whoso profession purports to hold forth sympathy and mercy? And now to see if the Eev, John Dukes has tho courage of his opinions, which,much doubt. He distinctly stmoslibst' of tho thirty oddcharges against the Star Hotel, most, if not all, should have obtained a conviction. On behalf of the licensees I distinctly challenge the Rov. John Dukes to name a single charge on which the licensee should have been convicted! When he names the charge ho will be made to provo bis assertion or stand the consequences 1 I think tho rov. gentleman—if ho sits down quietly and thinks—will see that his enthusiasm has led him to overstep the mark,and ho may also have a glimmering of tho fact that such letters as those in question, only disgust and alienate peoplo from a good cause. Yours obediently, C, A, POWNALI,