CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 439, 27 October 1908, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

I ADVERTISEMENT.]

We do not hold ourselves responsible for opinions expressed by our correspondents.

[to the editor.]

Sir, —ln your issue of Saturday last, I notice a letter signed by Mr W. J. White, licensee of Whyte’s Hotel. I give credit to Mr White for coming to the front and in a nice courteous manner opening up a discussion on the question ot NoEicense. I do not suppose he intended to attempt to mislead anyone, but stated his case just as it appeared to him, and spoke for his neighbours in the same line of business, for which, I presume, he had their authority. I take it, then, that his statement is the facts in relation to the Eicensed Bars in Foxton. I wish in a word to point out a serious error in Mr White’s letter, and when it is seen by the gentleman named, I trust he will just as readily admit his error with the same degree of courtesy as that with which he made the statement. He is evidently under the impression that the carrying of NoLicense means the shutting up of the Hotels. Might Ibe allowed to state, for Mr White’s information, that the No-Eiceuse movement only aims at closing the public drinking bars. Mr White pays £4O per annum for the privilege of having a license to sell intoxicating liquors in his bar within certain specified hours, and that is all he contributes to the borough finances, which the NoLicense movement would in any way effect. lam glad Mr White allows that £7500 are spent annually in Foxton iu intoxicating liquors, so that we may take it, that the amount stated is within the mark, and the public of Foxton may see at a glance the economic fallacy of maintaining the present conditions. At an expenditure of £7500 for which no one has anything to show as a result, and which affords employment to not more than six persons iu the community, we get the return in license fees of £x6o ! Mr White says we get £2lo—we will let his figures stand. And we have all the risk of the lads ot to-day who are to guide the affairs of this Dominion, or at least this portion of it, iu a few years, being degraded and demoralised and unfitted for manhood's duties and responsibilities. Is it a fair deal ? Mr. White says that he circulates at least ,£1,300 a year in Foxton. I do not doubt it, but surely he does not wish us to infer that he circulates that amount in Foxton iu keeping his bar supplied. I should like to ask him seriously and respectfully how much of the above sura does he spend in Foxton for the supply of his bar ? With the exception of the very small amount spent in “soft” drinks and the license fee, Mr. White will still continue to circulate as large a sum iu carrying on his legitimate hotel business after the people in this electorate decide that the public bars shall cease to exist.—l am, elc., George K. Aitken.