MR. DRAKE AND MR. COHEN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12658, 21 November 1905, Page 2

MR. DRAKE AND MR. COHEN.

To-the Editor. • ; Sir,—Mr. L. Cohen, the solicitor for the local Licensed Victualler^ Association, stated at the No-License open-air meeting on Saturday evening last, that ho was absolutely respor-sible for communicating the telegram concerning the meeting at Aramoho to the local agent of tho Press Association. Will he tell mo whether he was afeo responsible for tho report which appeared in the "Herald" for November 3. As the Press Agency, through which the said telegram was sfcnt, and the "Herald publishing office are in the same set of buildings, and Mr. Palmer, the President of the Licensed Victuallers' Association left for the south by the < train, it is easily possible that both communications came from the same hand. Was that hand Mr. Cohen's? If so, will he also inform me why the report:! differ so materially, as the following comparison will show. I omit tho first few sentences of the "Herald report, which do not affect the question : Press Association message, "Stratford Evening Post," November 4: "A somewhat unusual course was followed by the Licensed Victuallers at a meeting called by the Prohibitionists on Thursday night. The President of the Licensed Victuallers' Association and several members attended tho meeting, occupying the front seats. The President explained that they were there for tho purpose of refuting the rash, unfair statements and vilification of the wives and families of publicans similar to what were uttered at the Prohibition open-air meeting held on Saturday night. Tho meeting was very orderly, and speeches moderate in tone, the speaker* apologising for reflections previously cast." "Herald" report, November 3: "Among the audience were several members, of the Licensed Victuallers;' Association, who had gone up with a view of refuting any unfair or rash statements that might be made, similar to certain utterances which were expressed at an open-air meeting on Saturday night. The President of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, Mr. Palmer, frankly informed the speakers of tho reason for their presence, and probably as a consequence the speeches wero fair and moderate in tone, while tho proceedings were very quiet and orderly. Several questions were asked and answered, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair." Further, will Mr. Cohen inform mo why no report of the alleged apology at Aramoho has up to this time been published in either of the local papers, and why, as legal adviser to tho Licensed Victuallers' Association, ho has not urged the publication before this time? Why was the alleged apology in its exact words not included in tho "Herald" report on November 3? Why did not Mr. Cohen, as the solicitor -l'etained by the Licensed Victuallers!' Association, and the agent through whom tho Press report reached the local agency, see, that on a matter so vital, the two reports tallied?" Will Mr. Cohen be kind enough to give a plain, direct a^^er^to each of these question i —1 am^R^ • E. DRAKE. November 20, 1905. P.S.—I may say in re the "Herald" report, that Mr. Palmer did not-speak at all, except to ask a question, till tho vote of thanks to the chair had been carried. Sco Mr. Benefield':! letters of yesterday.—E.D.