A SERIOUS ALLEGATION.

Wairarapa Age, 18 November 1919, Page 5

A SERIOUS ALLEGATION.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I was reading your valuable paper about a fortnight ago, and was startled with what I read in a letter signed by W. J. Tennent, secretary of the National Efficiency League, to the effect that successive Governments had accepted payments for party purposes from the Liquor Traffic. I noticed in your leading article that you told him that ho had made a serious statement, and that he would havo to prove it or withdraw it. I purposely kept quiet, thinking that the clergymen or the Prohibition Party would persuade Mr. I'cnnent to withdraw his statement, but evidently they have not tried to do so, thinking, probably, that Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, and the late Mr. Eichard Seddon's friends would never see the Wairarapa Age, and all would be well. But it so happens that I know all three great statesmen that Mr. Tennent has attacked; and I would be no man at.all if I allowed their reputations to be damaged by Prohibition fanatics. I now take a hand, and ask A£r. Tennent to withdraw his statement in your paper, or prq,vo it. If this letter is ignored by Mr. Tennent and the Prohibition Party there is going to bo serious trouble. —I am, etc. JOHN HANNAH. Carlton House. «.