In Reply to "One of Them."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13523, 3 November 1911, Page 7

In Reply to "One of Them."

to tkb jcnrroß, Sir, —-“One of Them” Rays that I have not been able to refute any of his statements; I refuted them entirely in my first. He says I have not brought forward ■me jot of evidence, etc. Ho has given no evidence whatever. I showed clearly that what he elected to adduce was utterly irrelevant. Then he goes on to deni with Invercargill, his idea being, no doubt, to show that, economically, the liquor trade >s a failure. He quotes the Mayor, three '••x-Mayqrs, and “150 citizens”—yes, yes—the great majority of them ardent Pros. Would'you expect anything else? In return, may I quote from Truth, October 28, 1911? ■ A long article in that issue shows how utterly Prohibition has failed in Masterton. I give but the headings—the article being too long to give in extenso:—“Decrease in Population— Slump in Business—lncrease in Bank-ruptcies—-Successful Sly-groggeries—Dili-gent “Droppers"—A Sign of Increasing Poverty—Tho Growth of Second-hand Shops—Chinese Laundries and Empty Shops.” Truly a long and comprehensive indictment! And may I ask you to note that this is NOT an advt. It docs not bear the deadly .sign of the “star” that Mr George Fowlds was so eloquent about—in his grandmotherly way. The article is the production of a representative of the papeV, who founded his writing upon knowledge gleaned from personal inquiries. By the way, concerning Maine. I wrote that the Pov. Hammond said that the statement made by the trade as to Maine having eliminated Prohibition from the Constitution was a “despicable lie.” All the papers and the Press Association still persist in this “lie.” Shocking! I apologise to “One of Them” for mentioning this—he didn’t raise the question. And “One of. Them” will close this correspondence—a resolve full of the utmost sagacity and nrudence. Good-bye, old chap. Next?—l am, etc., Advt. FREEDOM. [This correspondence must now cease.— Ed. W.H.]