THE IGNORANCE OF MR BERNARD

Evening Star, Issue 12870, 20 July 1906, Page 3

THE IGNORANCE OF MR BERNARD

NICHOLLS. 10 THB EDITOR, Sir,--Wben I read Mr Bernard letter in your paper the other evening I could not help saying to myself " What an innocent I have to deal with." Mr Nicholls pretends that he does not know to whom tie Licensed Victuallers' Association referred in their report! I should have thought that one of his great experience should have known better. I read some time ago a statement from Mr Nicholls's own pen that he used to spend a long time in bars, enjoying himself with pretty barmaids, and that he was sorry for all the money that he had spent in shouting and drinking. A man with such knowledge should know what he is talking about, hut Mr Bernard Nicholls is apparently too innocent to recall his old experiences to his mind. The Licensed Victualiera' Association, I repeat, quite right in setting their face against women being served at the bars. They will popularise their cause as they have never done before if they stick to their guns and carry out this principle. Mr Nicholls knows quite well that it is only women of a certain class who would drink at hotel bars. Mr Thomson never said that he saw twenty women drinking. If I remember the report rightly it was to the effect that he saw about twenty women enter a hotel bar in a given time, and when he went in he saw some women drinking. There can be no question as to the meaning of the report, and that being so, the bottom drops out of Mr Nicholls's whole argument. He has not got a leg to stand upon. The truth is that the Licenced Victuallers' Association have determined to set their house in order, as you put it, Mr Editor, and they should be encouraged and commended for tie work they are doing. Mr Nicholls does not like thai; hence all his indignation.—l am, etc~, Anti-No-jjckkse. Jury 20.