To the Editor of the "Nowr-Cla Daty New:
StI have heard the Council critiezed for its action in regard. to "the wheel" and I have thought it worth while to acquaint—the ratepayers of to-lay with the views held by ratepayers on this same question in the year 1910.
The following is an extract from the speech of Mr. David Landale his capacity of Chairman of the Couneit at the Annual Meeting of ratepayers held on March 21, 1910.
Pablic Gambling gentlemen we have closed the Alhambra, it may be hoped in perpetuity (applause).
"The means which we adopted were not those which would commend themselves to a purist in legal procedure, but they were those which T venture to think will com mend themselves to this cosmopoliran, though none the less commonsense, community, for the reason that they achieved their end, and the end has justified the means (applause).
"Now, Gentlemen, I must explain that out action in this matter not to be regarded as indicating ar intention to assume en the part of the Council. the right to. enter. the premises of any resident -with-gut a warrant, but,.as guardians of the welfare of this community, it is at times necessary for us to interfere in. matters which it may argued are strictly speaking our province.
"That all that transpired in connexion with this matter has not and never can be made public, must be obvious to any of you who have read between the lines in. the! correspondence in the Annual port.
"To those who would criticize our action I would say, that we have no desire to form a precedent, or to defend the course we pursued upon legal grounds; but the result should be a warning to them, be: they private individuals or government officials, that this community refuses to be exploited for the ben-eft of gamblers and' adventurers, matter what may be the cost."
These are the correct sentiments on this "question and I trust that at the next annual ratepayers meet~ ing the Chairman will be supported inthe Council's action regarding the wheel'as wholeheartedly, as it was in 1910, Tam, ete, Rareraver.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.