SEAMEN AND LIQUOR

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 7

SEAMEN AND LIQUOR

NO4.ICENSE IN PORTS. IS IT NEEDED,AT LYTTELTON? SmPPING MEN SAY YES. [BY TEI.EGBAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] • Christchurch, April 4. Tho question of no licenso and its probable effect is being seriously considered in Lyttelton, and especially this year, when the option poll is. looming larger every day. The possibility of ail increase in the rates is argued for and against. Lyttelton has a large number of hotels—as many as six hotels within a space of two hundred yards —and tho hotels are close to the water front. Most of the traffic to and from the. shipping in tho port has to use the streets in which' the hotels are most frequent. The port has earned the name of being one of tho worst towns in Ne\v Zealand, but its friends urge that most of tho drunkenness rests with the men from tho ships, who come ashoro and meet with convivial spirits and intoxicating drinks. ; It has been freely stated that the carrying of no license; in Lyttelton mil bo beneficial to shipping, and a "Times " reporter interviewed a largo number of people connected intimately with ships, and found that' in Christchurch and Lyttelton shipping circles few could be found who dqnicd that 110 license in tho port would bo a benefit. RATE DEFICIENCY: OFFERS.TO MAKE IT GOOD. The senior partner of one firm doing a largo business said his firm would.bo willing to pay a reasonable share,of the amount nccessary to make up any deficiency in Lyttelton's revenue, should thero be a deficiency in the event, of no licenso being carried; There.was no, question.thiit shipping was inconvenienced by the drunkenness of firemen and sailors in Lyttelton. He had heard that the principal'evil at present was tho liquor that tho- men obtained. That no-license in Lyttelton would be beneficial to the ships could not be refuted, especially as Lyttelton was the worst seaport in New Zealand for drunkenness'among marine workers. ... ■ A prominent member of a shipping company engaged in international trade stated' .emphatioally that ho thought that no license would be itlio best thing for shipping in Lyttelton. The firm paid a considerable amount for rates, iri Lyttelton—in fact,, it .was. olio' of ' the largest ratepayers in '.the port—and it would be willing.to pay any extra charges on the rate to see the hotels closed. ;If a Home-going ■ steamer wero delayod in the stream at Lyttelton, 'the cost to the shipping company was about £60 a day, and if tho vessel was alongside a wharf it-was slightly greater. Another prominent shipping man said that until tho hotels were closed tlie firemen, would always ; givo trouble, and it . seemed that the men often 'got,' instead of good liquor,'" fighting whisky." '

SHIP CAPTAINS IN SUPPORT. Alriiost every steamer captain is in favour of no license in Lyttelton.-One captain of a ship trading between, London: and New.. Zealand said he denied ■' that tho Government had a moral right to prohibit drink, but, ' speaking' selfishly! the closing of tho hotels in! Lyttelton would bo one'of tho best things that could happen in the interests of shipping.. .During-his two last visits to! Lyttelton he had experienced little difficulty with his men, but a few years ago Lyttelton was ■ one of the worst seaports in tho world. Tho chief trqublo was with the quality of tlia liquor supplied to the men. He had known strong : drinking men . who had been made.' " fighting drunk •' by a glass of absolutely" ■poisonous stuff. Good, honest beer did very little harm, but > some of tho drink that the rneii obtained in New Zealand affected the 'systems of the nion for over a week in soma cases. IS CHRISTCHURCH TOO NEAR? A captain of one' of the steamers trading to Avonmouth. said that he thought the carrying of no license in Lyttelton would be of little use unless Christchurch Were also dry. >"My experience,", he i said, "and I have/ been in all ■ quarters of'the shipping world, is that -a fireman will get' any: drink that , is within twenty miles of him. If Christchurch remained open the men would go to town,' and 'wo woukl never bo able to find , them again, and ill addition the trains down to Lyttelton late at night would bo terrible for women. If the salo of liquor could bo prohibited in every seaport in tho world I am sure that shipping would soon experienceimproved, conditions." PORT CHALMERS AS AN EXAMPLE. ' The period of 110' license in Port Chalmers, was recalled by one' of tho oldest sea captains in- the .Union Company's employ.' Ha said that ,the sixteen months' of prohibition : in Port Chalmers had won over,' almost every shipmaster who had' visited! the port to tho . no license side. Lyttelton, lie ; considorod,, was tho worst port in Australasia, its hotels being so near, the wharves that- tho men from the ships, could obtain liquor with ease.