LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14219, 16 November 1909, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE WANT OF BATHS.

Sir,—For many years past this " felt •want" has been acknowledged; but beyond that no practical effort has "been made to supply the deficiency. Our City. Council has recently had a healthy infusion of 'new blood. Would it bo too much to expect some councillor to earnestly take up.'. this matter— is not confronted by any insuperable difficulty—and earn the gratitude of the citizens, by advocating to a consummation the construction of at least one centrally-situated and up-to-date cold and hot salt-water bath. This would greatly contribute to tho health and enjoyment of the robust, and bo a powerful antidote to the sufferer from rheumatism and kindred troubles. M.B.

THE LICENSING PROPOSALS. Sir, —This is another instance of how far men holding extreme views will go. They are basing their calculations on the results of the last elections, apparently , forgetting that they owed that result to the moderate vote. The moderates are mostly levelheaded ■ men, running to neither extreme; men who would vote reduction and a reasonable control of the liquor trade, hut men who will not be driven by extremist's or, if driven by law, will vote for continuance, fuid thus throw back the prohibitionists forV 20 years. Under tho present law they (the"temperance: party) are doing veil, and if wise should be satisfied to let well alone. If the present proposals are carried I am satisfied they will work right into tho hands of the liquor party. Moderate. RAILWAY MONOPOLY. Sir, —Mr. Poole has been airing a supposed public grievance, on the rise of sugar, and condemns the monopoly. We wait- anxiously for his denouncement of tho railway monopoly and the rise of public fares, on the evo of the Christmas holidays. -<» Faik Plat. THE COMPROMISE MADE WITH THE BREWERS. , Sir, —The terms of tho' comproirfise made with the representatives of the traffic are even more surprising- and -unaccountable tha'rt th'e refusal by* "the New Zealand Alliance of Clause' 9, which -would have, made no-license mean no-liquor in all no-license areas. In this new arrangement wo notice that this anomaly is still maintained ~in -the local - option areas. Mr. Spragg's,.-ex-planation only tends to add to-' the confusion. Ho talks of our "preponderating strength" and " tho unanimity of the ■ party,'', and to what ho terms "the disgraceful unfair handicap" wo have laboured under. Yet he asserts that although tho unanimous consensus of public opinion, as expressed in the. mass meetings held in Wellington, Christchurch, - Auckland, and Wellington, was for demanding Dominion option by bare majority, and local option by bare majority, that they have not abandoned their principles by agreeing to a 10 per cent-, handicap, with five years' time notice. Mr. Spragg has the reputation of being a shrewd man of business, yet he ventures to affirm that again handicapping his own party will secure the''abolition oP the traffic in a short period, the shortest period possible under existing conditions being seven years, for if these - proposals ' aro adopted by Parliament it will be two years before the next poll is taken. If Mr. Spragg calls seven jears a short period, I would like to know what he would call a : long one. As for saving Parliament work, - Parliament is intended to work, and, furthermore, is paid to work. This excuse reminds me of another compromise made with . the trade in 1906, when the •• pretence set up was the no-license party wished to save tho city the expense of an election. So they made a joint ticket with the trade - for the. Licensing Committee. Then he says that he believes the Parliament would have probably come to a similar conclusion. In my opinion, it will bo found Parliament will not dare pass such a Bill. The most important question, however, is, Who gavo Mr. Spragg any authority to take less than Dominion option and bare majority? Who is Mr. Spragg, that ho should assume to voice the opinion of over 200,000 no-licenso voters without Consulting ". them?.. He. saya • j the Government "would "not assists; but what had that to'do with the instructions he had received" to foreo ..our demands on Parliament, win or lose? No one that .1 know of expected Sir Joseph Ward 'would be favourable to aggressive . temperance . legis- ; lation. r -That-■ he - wotild ' Attempt - tho- acrobatic feat of riding two horses everyone expected. But what was not expected was to see Mrr Spragg making similar performance. Mr. Spragg apparently expects to see some hostility shown to his agreement, and I think he will not be disappointed. Wo want no bosses anywhere, especially in the national question of the prohibition of the liquor traffic. : William Riuhaiidson, -?; . Chairman , h Auckland Temperance '.' • ... Crusaders. *'<> ' ■ Nmeiflberie.. .'SI': [ ■ r— j.', THE WAIUKU RAILWAY. I Sir,—lt was with pleasure ? read . your ! sub-leader iin -Tuesday's* Herald on the i surprising "j position",.Jlje. Government has | taken up in regard 'to - our long-deferred Waiiiku railway. Our Railway League, fully appreciates the value of such able-and powerful -assistance- as your- paper has al- • | ways given us in our endeavours to get fulfilment, of the many promises of railway, connection with., Auckland, with which the; settlers of -this long-settled *a*id productive district have been deluded'during .the past 30 years or so. We i.do -not, however, intend to bo put off by« -euch "-remarkable changes of front "on "the Government's 'part; J but shall • continue to -place our just claims before the Ministry;? and wo hope to have a continuance of your paper's valuable assistance in this direction. Again. most sincerely thanking you„on .behalf „of our .Railway -League, £ * 5 Waiuku, November 12. -Jy ■ ;