THE LATE LIBEL CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2332, 27 October 1908, Page 4

THE LATE LIBEL CASE.

[To the Editor.] Six- 3 It has given me considerable plasure to read the result of the libel action. Two copies of the “Times” have reached me, and I am pleased to find that truth has come out on toil. 1 have a suspicion that the “Times” has had an up-hill fight against a powerful foe, and I car wventure an opinion as to the actid*w / •sthe Gisborne people will take at thijf forthcoming poll. This traffic get a bigger knock-out than before. We ought to be grateful that we have a man of the backbone of Mr. G. J. Black in our midst, and it is a source of regret ire have not many juore of the same stamp. I have also read, with interest, the account of the debate re State control; 1 suppose what is meant- is State ownership, for have we not State control now? We have licensing committees; magistrates, police, judges, juiffes, and in- irf ebriate homes, and still the traffic is - thriving and turning out the finished article by thousands who are to be seen about our streets in- the shape of human wrecks. I notice that the “trade” have not made a shopwindow display of their handicraft like other trades have during the industrial week in New Zealand. I don’t suppose for a moment that they are ashamed of their work. As for State control, we might as well try to control the length of an elephant’s trunk, or stay the tide with a pitchfork. There is only one way or putting the trade in its place and that is doing the same with it as Ashburton, Oamaru. Clutha, Mataura, Invercargill and Grey Lynn have done. Of course the old cry of sly grog will be raised, and no -denies the existence of that, but the people who rote no-license will see to it that illegal sellers are stringently dealt with. Since I have been here and hi Sydney 1 have discovered that there is a. tremendous' wave of no-license reeling spreading over these'States, and if I mistake not the same wave in Gisborne will take such a practical shape that not a few will have to look out and turn their attention to some other and cleaner business. —I am, etc., A. VOWLES. Melbourne, Oct. 15.