OHINEMURI ELECTORATE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9497, 28 November 1899, Page 4

OHINEMURI ELECTORATE.

MR. DE BARKER'S" CANDIDATURE. (To the Editor.) ' Sir: Mr. Leo de Bakker addressed the electors at Puriri on the;- i22itd inst. After a few words of praise to the Seddon Government'aiid convincing the people that beneath the Premier's waistcoat a warm heart beat, he touched on prohibition. "I am dead against it," he; announced,' "for I am the brewers' man; at least, so people say." He then proceeded to enlarge at great length on the beauties of the drink traffic. "Suppose," he said; "the hotels were closed throughout the colony, it would mean nothing but. sly-grog soiling, the same as it is in prohibited parts of America, For instance, you meet a man going along the front street with a book under his arm, made to hold alcohol, with the cork nearest his side,-and on the other side written in gold letters, "Holy Bible." Concluding his remarks, he asked the electors for their support in the coming conflict, promising them faithfully that, he would do all in his power to prevent them from being compelled to go to bed without their glass of whisky. He then.invited questions, and was considerably taken back when a resident rose and asked several questions, "Do you mean to tell me," said the questioner, "that a man when sober would commit the offences we so often read of in the papers. And you also speak of whisky saving a man from accidents!" "Yes, sir, I do," replied the candidate, "and, moreover, sir, I'll prove to you how a man, after taking three whiskies, was saved from going under the wheels of a dray!" This he asserted in a most emphatic manner. "Well, how did it save him?" "Because.he wasn't there!" This bit of quirk, clever, no doubt, for a foreigner, caused a deal of noise. Several other questions were asked and similarly answered. After a! voto of thanks had been passed the elec-

tors dispersed, feeling, no doubt, how great an' honor it would be -to elect such a noble candidate, who, during his discourse, remarked,'that it was said of him he had not sufficient interest in the country to represent it. This he explained was not so, as ho was; connected -.with :the, ; paper, and had'some sliares ; in a, Waihi mine. This is the candidate'who wishes (o represent us.—rl am, etc., " ELECTOR.