NO-LICENSE AND PERSONALITIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 439, 24 October 1908, Page 2

NO-LICENSE AND PERSONALITIES.

We regret very much that the personal element was introduced into the No-license question at Shannon the other night,during the course of an address judging by certain correspondence which has appeared in our Palmerston morning contemporary by a Shannon hotelkeeper. Unfortunately, only one side of the case is set out, but even if the matter published could be proven, what in the name of ‘common sense has it to do with the broad question of License v. No-liceuse ? We have the cause of No-liceuse too much at heart to approve of any Nolicense advocate stooping to personalities, and the sooner the leaders of the movement condemn this sort of thing, the better it will be for the reform. Personal attacks on publicans by in disci eet platform speakers have done much harm in the past. We admit, however, that in this connection publicans have not been blameless, but it should be borne in mind that abuse is not argument. We have to remember that the publican is plying a legalised calling, and so long as he keeps within the law, he is entitled to the same respect and consideration as any other tradesman. This question should only be discussed on broad principles, viz., economic, moral, and physiological.