THE MAYOR AND "A MIDDLE COURSE."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7821, 14 June 1909, Page 3

THE MAYOR AND "A MIDDLE COURSE."

To the Editor; Sir, —The last, I suppose, has riot been heard of the alleged pernicious influence of No-License upon the morals of the people. Do you know whether it is true that the Mayor (Mr Davis) refused to sign a statement giving a | general denial to the statements made | by the Australian M.P. .(Mr LSsiha) as to the harmful effects of No-Lice'i}§o in No-License areas,? Siire'ty, Mr''Davis knows whether the. moral tone of the people" in this town is lower than it was in the days of the open bar. If it is lower, Mr Davis ought to speak. If it is not lower, then he ought to have signed the manifesto • at least I am sorry to hear that he refused to sign it, on the ground that he did not wish to take sides with either party, and that he had tried to stear a middle course since occupying the mayoral chair. A middle course is always a hard course to travel, and doubtless the Mayor found it so when, at the recent mayoral function, stimulants stronger than tea were supplied to toast with : only, I cannot see that the. Mayor steered quite a middle course then, whatever his intention may have been. NOT A GOOD TEMPLAR.