PUBLIC OPINION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XVII, Issue 7155, 23 April 1919, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

The County Council and the Liquor Question.

To the Editor

Sir,— It was a pleasure to find that Mr Southey returned to the fray aud cross'oJ sword* with his fdeuY Mr Joiuos. who, tlio County Chairman infers, is a prohit itioi.ist, and no doubt, lUe. most o+her thoughtful men, is at heorf. though lie has not, to our knowledge, associated himself with tho jiovciu'-iu. We appreciated the actum of the Couucil from tho point of view ot its eflect on the i-suo at stake. I'lC | County Council was taucdi impressed with the nee ssity of protecting the public against themselves with regard to the payment of four and a-half millions compensation., and the financial position generally, aud we wete triad to see that noble spirit displayed. We wish to draw the Council's attention to the fact that if this proposal is lost another vote will be taken in j about seven months, when, if proi hibitiou is carried, no couipeiuation ■ will be paid A deliberate attempt ■ wiil be made on that occasion to sidetrack the public ou the State control issues. Will the members of tlie C'otiaty Council, who have posed as financial advisers, go into these further aspects and show to a wondering public what loss will be sustained supposing it were foolish enough to sanction the expenditure of ten millions sterling on State purchasers ? We sincerely hope that the public will have, more foeliog for the Comicil'i advice than heretofore, for we often woaucr whitit a members sYd when they saw what the hard-headed farmers of Te Puke. I Gate Pa, Otumoetai, Ohouiti, Oijq?.----i u«wa, Kaimai, Bethlehem, Te Puna, Omokoroa. Aongatete and Katikati, thought of their opinions. Mr Southey seems to have some difliculty as to his position as Chairman, We would suggest I hat mxt time he consults his neighbour, Mr Jones, for from the tone of his letter we should say that that gentleman possesses the desirtd knowledge. —1 flm etc., F. N. CHRISTIAN. Tftiiranga, April 19. 1019.