MRS MAYNARD’S LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3392, 7 December 1911, Page 3

MRS MAYNARD’S LETTER.

(Published by Arrangement.) (To the Editor.) Sir,—Mrs Maynard has gone to some trouble to advise ladies that they should not- ‘■interfere with the existing workable condition of tilings,” but most ladies prefer matters to exist- alittle differently than they do, and as they have in many instances been sufferers through no fault of their own, it is most probable they will seize their chance of making their homes (present and prospective/” as happy as possible, and eliminate the baneful influence that license exercises over some fathers, husbands, and sons. Mis Maynard pictures how a “well-conducted hotel is in every respect a true- and comfortable homo to those who find shelter within its walls.” There is a sort of saving clause in this, for when the money is gone, .will the shelter bo found ? She resents the interference that is entering so widely into the conduct of hotels. Hero is where she is confused and misses the mark. May I remind her that the ladies do not intend to interfere with the good conduct or wipe out the existence of good and necessary hotels, but simply to endear or to-day to remove away from these good hotels the evil thing that interferes with their being better hotels than they are at present. Mrs Maynard pleads for retention of the liquor trade, on the score that “lie is the true man who can face and overcome both moral and physical danger.” Then should wo not also have opium dens to help us to attain true manhood? Why not war with Germany at once with all its attendant horrors in order to improve our true manhood, by facing and overcoming a physical danger? Would Mrs Maynard like to put to sea in a ship in a storm in order to test the strength of the ship? The storm will not strengthen the ship; it may weaken it. The drink danger will not strengthen character—it frequently weakens it. 'Does Mrs Maynard know of a husband who did not reach, “virile manhood” on account of the temptations of drink, but who was an “object of pity,” did not get “due protection,” hut died, drink being the contributory cause. The quoted terms arc from Mi's Maynard’s letter. May I ask, further, if any members (and if so, how many) of Mrs Maynards first family are, or have been recently connected with the hotel business? If Mrs Maynard has members of her family in the licensed liquor lino in one or more hotels here, those- members will financially benefit by the “present workable condition of tilings,” being left as they are. She appeals to the ladies of Gisborne not to interfere, and says “the great majority of them ca.n know very little about it.” I think they know a lot about it ;and I appeal to them with confidence to consider my children (for I also, am a parent), and save them from obtaining in the open bar the insidious article with which they may be served by Mrs Maynard’s children, if any of them are still in business.

: The hotels will remain—no fear on thiat | : score, but they may, as a result of to- [ ‘ day’s effort, be brought up to that high j i standard of comfort,' and with the same ! facilities for transacting business ns 1 obtains in the cumimeircial hotels for th ■ uavelkng public of No-license Inver- • : eargill. And the Ladies of Gisborne are j out to-day to bring about tin's consum- '< motion. —I am, etc., j

NATIONAL AND NO-LICENSE