THE OTAGO LICENSED VICTUALLERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 21 March 1896, Page 3

THE OTAGO LICENSED VICTUALLERS.

ASSOCIATION. TO THE L'DITOE.

Sib,—l have been awray from Dunedin for two d»ys, and have jus-; returned to find myself quite famous. Some people are born great, others climb to greatness, and some have great* ness thrust npon them. I think I mutt bejn the last category.

The cause of the hubbub is the obvirvationj which I made in the case Stewart v. H'Eeozw and others. They seem to have roused the iw of Mr John Wells, the honorary secretary oi the. Licensed Victuallers' Association. His geuerouS instincts and well-known liberal priDcrpls»«eem to have been wounded, and I can easily imagine what a trouble he must-have been, to his friends. They seem, however, to fans been able to have prevented him from rushing forth and paying M'Keczie out of his own pockot, This is evidently the same gentleman who waa engaged in the incubation of M'Kemrie's claim from 9th January till 9th March, and who showed such extraordinary diligence in doings so. As an incubator, however, I am inclined to think he is not a success.: he is toosloK. He may, however, bs very useful to tts organisation which employs him in other ways. If ifi were inclined to be impetuous and wanted to pay M'Kenzie in too great a hurry oi to pass any other money bill at too great a pace, he would' be very useful af » brake—an a sort of House of Lords. I sea he is only honorary eaoreUry—he is not paid for his services. This would seem to show that the association is not quite so prosperous aa it osarit to be, and that it cannot now pay » secretary. M'Kenzie, who is a oautitic Scotchmen, ssy( that another.interpretation might be put on the matter. He hints that perhaps the association had apprised the services at taeir true valne. X really cannot say thai; I disagree with him. Mr Wells enters into an elaborate explanation to show that the association, as as association, never agreed to paid the money. As the matter will be fought out in court it wosJd not be policy to go into it at present. However* as I read Mr Golder's letter in court, there can be no harm in mentioning it here again. M« Wells says:—" In ftiet the association, as afi Association, has feken hardly any part in the whole affair." Lower down he says :—K^Fhe association never undertook anything." Let any one read Mr (Solder's letter aod see how it tallies with the statements of Mr Wells. It is dated from the office of the association, and it is written and signed by the then secretary. It is as follows :—

Victoria Chambers, Manse street, Dunedin, July 23,1594. John Dunne, Esq., Balclutha. In reply to yours of 'he 21st inst. I beg to inform you that my instructions are that unless £25 can be raised in the Cluiha district there is little hope of the association carrying 51'Kenzie's casa before the Court of Appeal, and funds are exhausted.—l am, dear sir, respectfully yours, John Golder. P.S.—We are advised that the cost of appeal will be about £60. Dunedin will subscribe £25. Mr M Kenzie must proceed himself. J. G, After reading thzt letter can anyone doubt what the licensed victuallers should have done as honourable men? I leave the public to answer the question. It will be observed that the letter is dated 23cd July 1894—about ZO months ago,—so that it cannot be said that Mb M'Kenzie has undnly pressed them. Even Mr Welle might have incubated something in the time. Moreover, ffi'Kenzie is a practical Highlandman, and he is prepared to take the money from the association, as an association, or other* wise. He will oblige them in that respect. Ha tells me, however, (hat the association hag never subjected him to any temptation. Mr Wells refers to the fact that certain pro« | ceeding3 against the licensed victuallers were I withdrawn. That is quite true. Summonses were issued under a written agreement made with the other side in the hope that a settle* "• j ment would be madn. Mr Greenslade had not returned to Dunedin, and was not served, | and the proceedings were withdrawn.. If lit Greenslade had been in Dane din I have no doubt the whole matter would hare been. settled long ago. Anyone who knows him would never have doubted that a single moment. In his absence, however, other' counsels pxe* vailed. Hence these tears! Mr Wells states, also, that I tried to squeezo the money out of the association for my client. That is true also. I squeezed very hard. 1 admit, however, with the greatest humility, that I did not succeed. It takes a much stronger man than I to get any money out of them. He says, also, thst I abused the association for the purpose of putting myself right with my " misguided client." I was inclined to resent this observation as a piece of impertinence. M'Kenzie, however, in his national fashion, telli me to " gang warily." He says he quite deserve! the epithet. He says anyone dealing with tb» association without a lawyer at his back is mi»« guided, very much misguided. He has a quaint way of saying some TBrjr sensibw • things sometimes. Mr Wells says, with a final flourish, that I know better than to bring other proceedings. We shall see. lun afraid that gentleman will be no greater success as a prophet th»n.as«a incubator.—l am, &0., Donedin, March 17. D. D. Macdohmb,