THE REV. W. J. WILLIAMS AND AUCKLAND MORALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10837, 22 August 1898, Page 4

THE REV. W. J. WILLIAMS AND AUCKLAND MORALITY.

The reply of the Rev. W. J. Williams to our article of Thursday last is an evasion of the issue, and practically is a confession that his first letter ought not to have been written. He urged that at the Exhibition there should not be any opportunity offered to take wine, beer, or spirits as a refreshment. He stated:—"There have been public functions in Auckland that have left shameful memories m the minds of those who attended them by the outrages on decency that have been perpetrated through tfrunkenneas.» I tt respect to this we asked for any case analogous to that of this Exhibition where" "outrages on decency" had been perpetrated. No man has a right to bring such a serious charge against a community without being able to prove it, and it he hnes to bring forward proof when challenged he is in a very awkTOd position. The device for escape resorted to by the Rev. Mr. Williams cart scarcely be called ingenious. W said that strangers to.Auckland must come fa ( the conclusion "either that Mr. Williams is fanatical by hsposi tion a, a Prohibitionist, and is utterly regardless of truth, or that the peS of Auckland were the most deSd onthefaceof the earth." Mr C now Baya that if he is m,rV „* t .™? Prohibitionist as Zs C ol truth in such matters theSS* "2; is ■"- -K y ■ ue ' " M « » moment, Mr Wil S,ii youi- logic is b adldy l ; must know ">. Your evidence^

— —_jg bo of facts as to these wcasums wW "decency" was "outraged,'' and wa '•■■''• could test them. They would tot rest on your word. If you" 0 v ed your case by facte then you would be triumphantly vindicated. It j s , )ar| . of your case that theso scenes "h aTe '"■- '■•' left shameful memories on the mOife ' •'• of those who attended" these public functions. The circumstances, if tW ' occurred, nro therefore of such public ' notoriety that proof is easy. As to the ■- question of whether alcoholic liquor* should be sold at the Exhibition We ';'•''•;': \ ■ do not feel very strongly. But the ; : \:' attack made by the Rev. Mr..%77 limns elevates tho question into a ' matter of principle on which we think ' : .7-' •: the commit-too should not give way. - ' If they do so, it will be an admission that Mr. Williams is right, and ; that 7 -.; the committee are afraid that if wine 777 or beer, or spirits were sold, de! cency would bo outraged, and that the Exhibition would bo such a place as that " no respectable citizen would '. feel at liberty to.take his wife land ■ children to." This would be a shame- : ; ful admission to make on behalf of ;,'.; Auckland, and would expose us to ' ridiculo and contempt throughout all .77 the colonies. The exclusion of ail \ 7 liquors is sought to be enforced under; 7;7 the threat that if not complied with,": "respectable people will have to con- 77 sider how far they can in any way .;; give it their countenance." This ;;>■ : = amounts to a threat, and perhaps those T- - who do not agree with Mr. Williams will retort that if the committee are. : :; weak enough to give way, then-; they will, on their part, consider whether they will give the Exhibition' '■'"- t'ucir countenance. • -