CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3218, 4 September 1879, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Wo arc not responsible for the 'opinions ex* pi-easod by correspondents, The writor'a name, A3 a guarantee of good faith, must be eric'iosod in the letter.

THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE. TO THE EDITOR*

Sir, — As Mr. Kelly favoured me and the temperance cause with special mention at tjhe nomination, I ask leave to make an explanation which might not then have been in order. But, > before proceeding, I admit that I have had much correspondence ..with Mr, , Kelly in his representative!, capacity, and I also admit that I have generally deceived from him uniform attention rind courtesy, fofr which he bas my sincere thanks. Referring, however, to tho temper, anoe question, I candidly say that his answer to my questions in public, and the absence of any privato explanation of his views, havo always inclined mo to regard him as one who would not only not initiate temperance reforms, but ono who would render assistance With timidity. If I have misjudged him, I shall rejoice, to learn jjhat, though neglected, ho is still our friend. Mr. Kelly says he would go as ,/ar,^ as Mr. Fookes proposes, to ; go. To this I say that before ofloring the latter my support, I ascertained that, be would give an honest support to some useful provisions which ,arfc' notfilnpjude^m the Local Option Bill to 'wnioh lie refers. • , „,-, • , „. If Mr. Kelly can find time; he .would oblige if he would kindly titate briefly his views on the following^details of the Licensing Law :-^ ' •<• '' ■> The reducing of. the sizo of the licensing districts to workable dimon. sions ; the providing of the machinery required for taking a poll as to existing as well as new licenses; compensation to hbldors of licenses; (he sjib-j stit'ution of a monopoly for* a certain time instead of compensation, or nny other substitute ; election instead of nomination of Licensing Commissioners; and, lastly, the propriety of evory application for a new license being advertised in a newspaper. — I am, | <kc, Robert 0. Hughes.