FAIR PLAY IS BONNIE PLAY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 117, 16 November 1908, Page 5

FAIR PLAY IS BONNIE PLAY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — In this morning's issue of your contemporary,' tho Daily Press, Mr Dalrymplo writes under tho above head and the contents of his letter demand comment from me, and under tho special circumstances I must ask you to forego your journalistic rule and publish the letter, as it is necessary the public should know tho facts as soon as possible. Ho states that "he understands that it is the intention of a certain organisation to prevent him addressing tho people of Damievirke at tho Drill x Hall tonight." Ho leaves the public to infer that tho No-license League is tho organisation concerned, since they contemplated holding their meeting on tho adjoining section. These are the facts : The Nor license League applied for the Drill Ha 11 in which to state their case, but found that the license p&rty had obtained the option over the hall for a series of nights just previously to tho election. "No meeting had been announced by that party for Sunday evening, so the League endeavored to obtain it but the License party had first refusal of the building, and they engaged it, and so the League was crowded out. I must, in justico to all, ask, Who is it that is trying to deprive the people of Dannevirke of hearing both sides of this much debated question? The No-License party are certainly not to blame. Moreover, the No-license party der cided to hold their meeting long before Mr Dalrymple advertised his intention of doing the same. No one

desires to prevent Mr Dalrymple giving full expression, to his sentiments on the subject, so the No-license party have decided to hold their meeting on the section opposite the post office to-night. Regarding the debate, I have little to say ; that concerns the No-license League and the Licensed Victuallers' Association, ■ and that body is quite entitled to its opinion, expressed in Mr Lavelle's letter to the League; but, when Mr Dalrymple states "that to bring tho opposing elements together in the Drill Hall would' bo to run a serious risk of a free fight," I must remind him that he is now in Dannevirke, and for thatkind of entertainment ho must go nearer Wellington. » .He certainly need have no objection to any "cheap sneers" of the Nolicense party, for I can assure him that there are none. In conclusion, I must tell Mr Dalrymplo that I resent his reference, to the "courage, gentlemanly conduct, and good taste of somo of tho supporters of No-li-oonse." Whether he is in a position to lecture me on such subjects I leave those to judgo who heard his public utterances at Daainevirke and Tiratu. — I am, etc., T. THEODORE THOMAS.