No-License Tactics

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12622, 19 November 1908, Page 7

No-License Tactics

TO THS BDITOa

Sir, — What a poor and boneless protest for "Fair Play" to utter, re the shady tactics of the No-license party, in last night's issue of the "Herald." To speak of their usual disregard for the truth and of those electors who allowed themselves to he duped by such a shady trick shows weakness throughout. To sign such a norn lie plume as "Fair Play," and admit in his letter the fact that the local hotelkeepers cornered all the cabs, cars, etc., that could be hired in town really savours of fair play. Even the candidates themselves had to rely on the hotekeepers for their conveyances, and if this does not indicate monopoly I don't know what does. All through the No-license party have given only facts, and proved by facts the absurdity of the pamphlets distributed by the liquor party. The ideas themselves were all borrowed. There was nothing original came from the liquor party. The vote of the people shows the .sweeping current of public opinion, and regarding any duping, it was a plain fact on which side the duping was. Another matter of fair play. It is the boast of the British race to allow free speech and have fair play. The liquor party, in closing both the main halls in town on the 15th, gave a very good demonstration of fair play. To question the intelligence of the voters in the manner "Fair Play" did in his letter is a downright insult to the commonsense of the electorate. That the No-license party are willing for a fair play fight is a known fact, and in closing 1 , sir, I would like to sum up with a remark similar to Mr Hutchison — That they prefer to be attacked by those with clean hands. — I am ,etc, AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM.

TO THE CDITOB.

Sir, — Your correspondent who signs himself "Fair Play" should have chosen a more suitable norn de plume, as the party he is interested in are not noted tor "Fair Play," especially in regards to renting the people's Opera House to be closed when that building could have been used to hold a meeting, interesting to, by far, the largest majority of electors. I and a great many others voted "No-license" to show that party that we did not favour such a trick and were not duped in any way. So "Fair Play can look nearer home to find a cause for so many intelligent people giving that party such a shock as they received on Tuesday last. — I am, etc., BRITISH FAIR PLAY.

Sir,— The 'statement of "Fair Play" "that the No-license party circulated the report that the local hotelkeepere were supporting Mr Huchieon" is absolutely wrong, and we give it a flat denial. There is so little difference betweca the opinions of the candidates .on licensing 1 matters, that to many individuals o^ our party it was hard work to determine whom to vote for*: but as a party matter the subject was never mentioned in either executive or general committee meetings. We will give "Fair Play the correct solution of the No-licenss vote. Cities always present many illustrations of the harm done J»y the open bar, especially amongst the young mca. These examples of harm make people think, and they compare our "dry" ai-^as with Ihr> rest of the Dominion, and they come to an intelligent conclusion on the* matter. That conclusion was given expression to on Tuesday last when the increases in the No-license voting were (we quote 'Herald") "Dunedin 2500, Auckland 2000, Christchurch 1300, Wellington 1100," while our own town vote increased from a minority of S3 to a majority of

■116. Next election we believe that through the continued spread of information due to the more chances of observation, the increase throughout the Dominion will continue, and that soon the whole land will be clear of the drink bars. — We are, etc.,

LEN. E. BASSETT, HENRY H. RICHARDSON, Secretaries Y.M.N.L. Club.