NAILED DOWN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6660, 6 November 1908, Page 5

NAILED DOWN

LIVELY PROCEEDINGS AT LOWER HUTT. WHO IS ME SMITH? Mr Carey Fitzgerald, organising secretary to the Ilutt Licensed Victuallers Association, had almost reached the close of his address at Lower Hutt last evening before any interruption at all reminiscent of the recent stormy scenes at Potono occurred. Mr Fitzgerald had repeated his figures dealing with the local rales of Ashburton borough, his object being to refute a statement mado by Mr Joseph Piper to the effect that the 9d in tho XI increase since no-lioense came into force represented special rates to meet interest and sinking-fund charges. ; _ The speaker quoted tho ‘‘Municipal V-ar-Book” to show that one special ivrto was in force in the borough, and clbnched his remarks by twice declaring, witrr emphasis, “That is one no-license lie I'-’ve nailed to the counter." (Aptie then proceeded: “And I challenge any no-.Ucenso advocate in this hall to como up on the platform and refute what I have said/ - ’ Amid a great outburst of applause,.*accompanied l>y hooting from the bade of tho hall, Mr* J. A. Black stepped forward. He hod advanced half-way*up the hall when the chairman rose and waved him back*. , _ • , Mr Black paused as a great outburst of hooting greeted the chairman s acWhen ’silence wa.*) restored the chairman appealed’ for fax r play* They should let Mr Fitzgerald finish his address. . “You challenged me to come up, roared Mr Black, above the answering chorus of dissent. * Thou Mr Fitzgerald essayed to speak, and there was a lull whih\ he protested: "I challenge anyone to rei nto xny statements. It. is unreasonable to ask to make use of my platform for the purpose." ' The hooting broke out with renewed vigour, cries of "You challenged, him to come up" mingling with it. Mr Fitzgerald gave in. Mr Black might come up, but he must confine himself to the point. , Mr Black alleged that the speaker’ ban coupled his name with that of Mr FVper in an effort to mislead. He (Mr Blatnc) had not spoken of Ashburton rates, bvt of the testimony of business men. L* could say, however, with regard to tin.* increased rates, that the provision was a special mect charges on liabilities contracted prior to the no-license period. (Applause.) The Mayor and Councillors had testified to this. Mr Fitzgerald submitted that this did not justify Mr Piper's statement that the 9d was a special rate. On the address being concluded, Mr Townsend, secretary of the No-license League, urho had been several times referred to/ rose, amid some uproar, and asked permission to put a question. The matter reflected on his personal honour. Sir Fitzgerald had said that he wrote to the Mayor of Ashburton with reference to the "boy's mother's letter," with the object of proving the writer to be a liar. He asked the chairman to read the correspondence on the subject. This the chairman did, the only reference to the letter in question in either Mr Townsend's letter or tho reply being a request that the Mayor would give an opinion upon it. Mr Townsend said his object was to refuto the statement as to the effects of no-license in the town.

Mr Fitzgerald contended that the opening passage was' a direct invitation to tho Mayor to contradict the woman's veracity. Mr Townsend, speaking amidst considerable interruption, then asked why Mr Fitzgerald had omitted tho words: “Only "ouo person is known to have procured liquor in the no-licenso district,” when quoting the police report respecting drinking in Invercargill; also whether Inspector Mitchell’s - report did not say the same thing. Mr Fitzgerald said tho sentence, and the preceding one relating to tho increased activity of the police being responsible for tho greater number of convictions, had no grammatical relation to one another. Mr Townsend said he was not answered, and was attempting to speak further when tho chairman interrupted and said that if that was so he ought to bo satisfied. He could not allow such an irregular discussion to proceed. He did not mind legitimate questions, but if they wished to challenge Mr Fitzgerald’s remarks iu detail they should take tho hall themselves and reply to him. Further uproar occurred upon a stranger rising in the body of the hall to second a vote of thanks. He said he know from personal experience that every word relating to liquor in nolioense districts spoken by Mr Fitzgerald was perfectly true. He was proceeding to refer to what he had scon in Ashburton and Invercargill when tho chairman pulled him up. Mr Black then asked leave to put just •one final question. They need not answer it unless they wished. "Was not the gentleman who had just spoken Mr Smith, organiser for the trade from the South? * . When the applause which followed had subsided, Mr Fitzgorald said yes, tho gentleman was Mr S. M. Smith. But was not Mr Black a no-license organiser from the North?