The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1905. "GOOD-NATURED BANTER."

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12824, 4 November 1905, Page 2

The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1905. "GOOD-NATURED BANTER."

After the trouble we took yesterday Jo' anticipate a possible objection Jo •eor ocsnment tin the language used by the Rer. L. M. Isilt to one of bis audience on the wharf, we ate rather surpriccd that the Rev. S. J. Serpcll, who ban owue to the assistance of hi* clerical colleague, should -coaunenre his letter in the l«oe which he has cbr<*«n to- adopt. We re-, peat that neither on Thursday morning nor yc*tetday did we tooch even the fringe of the Xo-Liccase qocstiou. We hare had our tat on that sabjeci, and we hare allowed corre*p<»odenU 101 l liberty to have their say. CoMadcralioß* tf space prevent u* al this time of year itvxn allowing what cwuld r»ly be a repetition of a. discussion which *« well threrhed out quite recently in oar column*, but as it would be unfair to express view* without publishing any criticjjtas the public might wish to make on them, we bare voluntarily pledged onmlve* not to repeat our own opinions «m the subject. Had we wished to do w. we have bad ample oppsrl unities to break that pledge. Since it was given, the "Timara Herald"' lias reported at leart cine ao-liccouc-ad-dress a week, bat we have nevtr once octsraented editorially upon what we regard as fallacies in (he arguments of the speakers. X»r did we do it on TB»Br»day or yesterday. In our issue* of ThurwUy we defended, the Xew Zealand cootingeol* again*! the accusation made by *. prominent member of the "Alliance in Dtrordin through the medium of an Australasian magaaiae, that the troops fr.tn this colony who s*rved in South Africa are responsible for the consumption of alcohol in Xew Zealand failing to decline in spite of the fact thatseveral electorates hare adopted no-licenie. Yesterday we protested against a respectable citizen of this town being publicly insulted because be ventured to argue with Mr Isitt about the past and pretest platform of the temperance reformers, Xehber of these articles touched the principle of no-liccnse or trenched open the arguments a hich are adduciblc either is it* favour, or in opposition to it. Yet Mr SerneU, with that remarkable faculty which be is not singular amongst no.litease advocates in pcs<cssing, sets in .bath, a malevolent desite to ''miss no to have a back-handed-flap at the 1 patiy,'- : or'to write of its leaders in vneh-«-manner as to excite public prejudice.'" f ' We are not is the habit of having "back-handed slaps" at anybody. The "Timaru Herald" has never yet been afraid to deliver its attacks frcra the front, and a* far as" the ttolicenso patty and its leaders art concerned, our objections have always beta couched in perfectly straightforward language. Oor comments of the last two days bar* beta directed, not against co-licence, fast against statements mad* by two would-be leaders of public opinion. The fact that both these men happen to be no-licenw advocates is quit* imauttrUl When the character of the Xew Zealand contingents is unjustifiably aspersed ihroegaoat the whoj* of th« Australasian colonies, ire totll defend the men against their wanton assailant. And when a citizen of Timara appeals to us for protection against a brutal insult when be is exercising his light to argoa a point with a public speaker who professes

«o win dj*ctn.»jr«n. w* >iall jive him <rtir ? p!«lcrlj'-.n.. 11 in isronaluial I*. a» ».!it'.'!-..r ihcse wrongs are i«r}iriral<?d an lie t:ato.rs if r«> lirtnsc *<t any <>!}icr natu-e. 3a t Mr Serptll and ih<«« »ho .-.»* aitjig *,ij, him »«f 1" it "itaJ il in iji.j Jlitir jiaj-tic-alar can** wbvh j* ingm*d— ».* injured il crttainly will lw~—by these indiscreiit-n* *.J the agents liey tmploy. We give the psblic Mr .Serf-ell'* wa .irittrpn-i.alj.-.a of 'he language In whkh Mi MrKcnwe was !ol«j«1<'d. and « I'i.VC lli<> j-uUic S*» jedee whether tier w<,nld a,-c*j*t. ijist language, if addressed 1.0 themselves. k« "gwod-natored banter." Mr McKcnrie's le.ur did a«l sltike tin an (be <«<BirKwiti«n ».f a man wbo»was prepared a<» s«*a.i il in that lighl. and "at reporter, U> whom Mr SerpeH appe-i3". pros ha» impnxKym tliat li;e mailer «» anything inl a. jc4i«? 1« l!ic vihjtii hhusver who cancrei «si*livls again*! lie ti« license Mr McKcnzie. bowcrcr. will no <s<«ai>t jinl thr finest ion lieyMid dnabt wbrti }ic sees lit* loophole of c>-c.aT«c which Mr Kin's ciampi> n has prctoivd. Kvca if wc n<k}>l Mr Serpen's dsiuiLvUc oonslrocioon. « shoald advise feolb him and Mr Isiii l<> take a *ojn<'»}iat tiai-rowcr vkw tif what consUmles " gnod-sstored hauler." Onr leportcr ha* added another sjiecimca «f what we ale a»ted lo dense <a» ll>c B<t. L. M. hill's iramoros* rett-ns !•-> lie workmen tii she wharf. The author of the famous phrase about " drinking till all"* Woe'' may he willing «« *«*;«. lie ro3g»ri«n qoolccj fey <mr refwrttr a* a KaEßfJlc of wit. We are gla<3, bovrtrcr, lo isiaw lh»l lie wJwrf LaWsreni «if Taiaro iire j 3».-fiier »laod»n3 <jf Juacosr.