EDITORIAL NOTES AND COMMENTS

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 8583, 10 September 1904, Page 1

EDITORIAL NOTES AND COMMENTS

Tke no-lioense meeting of Thursday evening last was liighly suooessful. Tlia promoters of the meeting wisely confined their attention to the main features of the Licensing Bill, and the three resolutions which were passed practically co-vered the disputed ground. Whatever may be the fate of the Premier's measure, Oamaru can congratulate itself that it has done its duty, and raised its voice in opposition to proposals which have been pronounced highly objectionable by thoughtful persons in all. parts of the colony. There is no need for us to traverse all the details of the meeting. The speakers generally confined themselves to the matter at issue, and evidenced a considerable amount of fitness for their self-imposed task, some of the speeches being above the average. There are, however, one or two points which may be drawn attention to. We were pleased to note that the timely hint given by the Chairman, that "all would avoid personalities, as no good was done to either side by their use," was almost invariably acted upon. We> are fully aware that the temptation to the use of hyperbole .and epigram at a public meeting is very great, and ofteff leads a speaker to overstep the bo inds. A "gallery hit" generally tells upon an audience, and a round of applause is invariably its reward. We confess ourselves to a liking for vigorous Elizabethan English, particularly that in which our forefathers saw fit to describe the condition of the lost—it lias a sound which carries conviction. But personalities, even when covered by figures of speech, are always in questionable taste; as the chairman said, they do no good to either side; and as they were not entirely absent on Thursday evening, wo have deemed it wise, in view of future meetings of a similar character, to emphasise the advice thus timely given. An other good point of the meeting was a disposition to deal fairly with the Premier in relation to his Licensing Bill. We hold no brief for Mr Seddon as a temperance reformer. He has thrown down the challenge to the No-license party and we, in common with others, have taken it up. The Premier must stand or fall by the merits or demerits of his own measure. But we also recognise, as was remarked by more than one speaker on Thursday evening, that Mr Seddon has "worked for the benefit of the masses," and this feature of his career must not be lost sight of. There is always a danger in the heat of a conflict to lose sight of any question but the one then to the front; and this danger needs guarding against at the present moment. We are sorry for the Premier that he has not been able to shake himself free from the trammels of the trade. As a gentleman remarked in our hearing the other day: "What a pity it is that Mr Seddon cannot assert himself on the right- side. He might if he chose, go down to posterity as the man who cleared New Zealand of the drink traffic." But important as the liquor question'is, it is not the only question which affects our social life, and there are many ways—well known to all—in which the Premier's influence has been for good. It is only fair to him that this should be recognised at a period of his life when, handicapped by physical weakness, lie has to bear the brunt of the struggle between two conflicting interests. The no-license cause has nothing to lose by the adoption of fairplay. Mr Seddon has challenged it, and he must expect to receive some hard knocks. Let the party liit out straight, and true; but avoid striking below the belt.