CORRESPONDENCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 154, 2 July 1917, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

THAT SIX -O'CLOCK? DEPTJTAft s >.TIONE - ■

[TO TH" KDIVOR.I

_- Sir,—At last Monday's, deputation I listened with interest and astonishment to Mr McCalram's quaint topology for his pro-liquor votes in ■the House last session. Apparently, In order to prove to certain reeal■cdtrant Members of Parliament and Bo the 100,000 signatories to the 1916 l ■>etitio'n that he, Richard McCal-Bvv^iW-as not to be bounced or intimi- ■^■^ ho voted in blind unreason any reduction, even of one HHe of the sale of liquor. How can ■■vote against 9 o'clock be other-, ■pc explained, for did he not him-■_f-tell us that he'wanted 9 o'clock, ■nd was even prepared to go as far ■ half-past 8? E" ■What does this mean, Sir? Surely Kiis: That we are represented in ■fcrliameut by a man wdio is.willing t'he.-bfst interests of this Dothrough a whole year of war to satisfy his. own ouE-iged ■nity— "That'll teach 'em!" Coiild go further? ■■In^he year of war 1916, we in this ■E<minion «vasted millions of pounds m.\f cash, .and an enormous amount of ■valuable foodstuffs, in the process of fcd.bauching and rendering totally or ■partly inefficient thousands of valukhle -workers. . both men and ho vs. ■here were 10,998 convictions for ■runkenness last- year; 2068 persons ■ere prohibited; 9002 other offences Wxere traceable to drink. Jf Mr McrCallum hn«j any statesmanlike grasp I of this ii-T'-or question at' all, he must I know thee bedrock facts—they recur Iw*ar after year. Yet he admitted ■without a blush that it was his vote ■that saddled us—his masters who ■mustn't bounce him—with the whole r burden of another year's drink [^ra-gedy; he wouldn't stop the liquor ■|ream from flowing one hour a day, \ that admittedly the worst, hour, j forsc-Eh. certain people -t.be taugh-: a Ipssou. ■gjadicarions go to show that this is thoroughly aronsed on ,on or a substantial reduchours of sale of strong 100,000 petitioners of will have swelled to more that number, if this dEcriterion. Is the to bo again flouted?

CITIZEN