THE LATE SLY GROG SELLING CASE.

Manawatu Herald, 25 October 1878, Page 3

THE LATE SLY GROG SELLING CASE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MANAWATU

HERALD.

Fir,— As I see from your report of Langley's case in your last issue, that my name is mentioned as Treasurer of the Otaki Working Men's Club, I must ask you to allow me to state the extent of my connection with that institution. In April last I was called on by a gentleman, who asked me to attend a meeting which was being held for the purpose of forming a Working Men's Club. With many misgivings as to the success of such an institution in this district, I accompanied him to the meeting, at which the Wellington Working Men's Club rules, with some few alterations, were adopted ; and a Committee was formed, of which I was elected a member. Subsequently I was induced to accept the office of treasurer. Balloting for., members having been virtually abolished by the adoption of a system that enabled any man to join the Club ; and as there did not seem to be the remotest chance of rectifying the evil, constituted as the Club then was, I on the 17th of Sep* t ember, resigned all offices in connection with it ; but not wishing to desert the originators of the Club I allowed my name to remain on the roll of members, hoping that an op> portunity might occur of enforcing a proper system of balloting, and working other reforms. The statement that Mr Simcox is one of those who started the club is erroneous. Ho was merely a member, and ceased being one en the 1 8th September. In justice to the Committee I must take exception to the following sentence which appears in your leader of the 18th inst — " Why did not some of the officials (the respectable ones) connected with this Club come forward and give evidence V Without going into the matter of the desirability or otherwiso of the officials volunteering to give evidence in a case of sly grog selling of which they knew nothing except from hearsay, I cannot rofrain from expressing regret that a writer, in dashing off the article should hove italicised the word " respectable" and so questioned the respectability of the officials of the Otaki Men's Working Club, who are aJI honest, hard work- 1 ing men, and who are only in a posi-j tion in which the official!? of the; Wellington, or any other Club, might be placed to-morrow, l»y a ste\v;iiil breaking -tfrg law: i

I am, &c,

A. J. Halu'ikuj Otaki, October 19, 1878.

iWo thank Mr Hadfield for tho information contained in his letter We shall be glad to publish any res ports sent us of the Club meeting, and with his assurance of the character of tho officials, we wish tho Club nil success. Wo regret that through Mr Langley's action, the Club has been misunderstood.— Ed M. HEttALD.]