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Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 5, 18 October 1902, Page 18

WESLEY SPRAGG'S MANIFESTO. (To the Editor " Auckland Star .") Sir,— Without any desire to enter into discussion with one using such intemperate language, and who displays such a genius for the distortion of facts as Mr Wesley Spragg we feel it our duty not to allow the letter of Messrs Wesley Spragg and Thomas Webb to pass unnoticed. Were we to do so a section of the community might readily credit that there was even a suspicion of truth in the ridiculous assertions made by Messrs Wesley Spragg and Thomag Webb on the " authority " of a leaflet issued by the Prohibitionist bod; known as the New Zealand Aliianw. It should be unnecessary to point out to anyone who is not a bigot the malice which is apparent not only in setting up the rumour to which we deemed it necessary to reply, but also characterises the effusion of Mesrrs Wesley Spragg and Thomas Webb. Malice with a deliberate intention to mislead the public, backed by pure fanaticism, is evident in every line of the letter now under review. The sole reason for issuing the recent manifesto was owing to the fact that the Prohibitionist Party, of which Messrs Wesley Spragg and Thomas Webb are two shining lights, persistently asserted that it was the intention of the trade to apply for a license in the Grey Lynn Djstiict, other than the two at present existing. By such measures doubtless it was thought possible to throw dust in the eyes of the unwary and unthinking members of the community, but no one knows better than Mr Wesley Spragg that the owners of the two hotels in the Grey Lynn District have not the slightest desire to remove either of the licenses from its present position. This is really the only way in which an increase of licenses could take place in the Grey Lynn District. No one, therefore, knows better than Mr Wesley Spiagg the justification we had for applying the term " malicious " to the rumour so skilfully circulated. With regard to the assertion that the manifesto contained so many loop-holes in its promises— at any rate let us assure Mr Spragg that it was not our desire to frame a reply which would not express our true intention, and if he can point out <tny more ■ satisfactory method of refuting his own misstatements we most respect- ; fully beg to assure him that it will i afford us great pleasure to be tulvised of it. Mr Spragg 's latest move to change ithe name of the Mount Albert Prohibition League to that of the Mount 1 Albert No-License League was a cunI ningly devised scheme to entrap the unwary, and try to retain certain | names on the executive of the '■ organisation, the owners of which had 'strong objections on principle to be- | ing connected with any Prohibitionist League. As a matter of fact, it is i common talk that the name of more than one well-known citizen was placed on the executive without his authority, and had to be subsequently withdrawn at the insistence of the gentlemen so objecting. : It is evidently the desire of Mr Spragg and other Prohibitionists to ; foist on those who are engaged in the sale of alcoholic liquors personal re- ; sponsibility for any evil that may I arise from over-indulgence in this, one jof Nature's good gifts. If this hy- ; pothesis be correct, then let us carry ! the argument to its logical coni elusion and apply it to other trades. I The so-called reasoning is so i-pecious i that to any intelligent person it I would appear unnecessary 10 notice it, but it is evidently written with the idea of having an eSect upon hysterical and unthinking women and men. As well hold the. iron and steel workers, who make the engines of war, responsible for the evils arising from the use of their weapons. As a matter of fact, if Mr Spragg 's argument would bear analysis, he and his fellow vendors of milk would have to be held responsible for the deadly cream that is said to have caused the lamentable poisoning cases at Okoroire, and for the various and only too frequent cases of typhoid and other serious illnesses arising from an indulgence in impure milk- Possibly it may be the intention of the Prohibitionist Party to make, another attack on our present liberty, by pro-