PROHIBITION DEBATE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1903, Page 2

PROHIBITION DEBATE.

That a great amount of public interest centres round the liquor trade ; that it is undoubtedly the burning question of the day, was fairly well evidenced last night by the large attendance at the Opera House, and the great interest which was taken in the debate, The broader question of prohibition was not 'apparently put forth, the question of debate being as to correctness or otherwise of the manifesto issued by the licensed victuallers of Greymouth prior to the last local option poll being taken. This, practically, opened the whole question. The arguments on both sides were conducted in a dispassionate and gentlemanly manner, The figures quoted on both sides were “perfectly convincing ” to anyone who only heard one side of the question. Both debaters marshalled their figures to fair advantage, both declared that these figures were taken from official and thoroughly authenticated documents, and must, thereforefore, be accepted as absolutely true and beyond question. Yet these facts and figures were widely different, wore, in point of fact, diametrically opposed to each other. But there is nothing extraordinary in this, for it is often stated that one can prove anything by figures. It is only a question of looking at the subject from different standpoints. The meeting itself, was orderly and good-natured, more interest being manifested in the debate than has everbeen shown before in Greymouth. The chairman, who was firm, courteous and impartial, had only once to give his ruling, and that ruling—a correct one—met with general approval. Both debaters practically concluded their address in like terms, both were in perfect accord in asking the electors to take no one’s word upon the subject, to enquire themselves at the fountain-head; to study the subject in all its bearings, and,

having done so, to give an intelligent vote based entirely on their own convictions, As a matter of fact, nothing new was elicited—the figures and arguments were the old stock ones, the real point at issue being no farther advanced than before the debate commenced. Perhaps the most pleasing feature of the gathering was the financial result thereof. The Licensed Victuallers and the Prohibition Party agreed to bear the entire costs, the whole proceeds to go to the Grey River Hospital. The money taken amounted to £4l Is, This, together with Go-

vernment subsidy thereon, will amount to £9O Gs 2d, a very handsome donation indeed towards, let ns hope, the nucleus of a fund for the erection of a second wing at the Grey River Hospital. In regard to this latter question we shall havesomething more to say. in a future issue. Suffice it at present to say that one firm has intimated to us their willingness to contribute ten guineas towards the fund, and we daresay that when the subject is put before the public generally, many other donations of a like amount will follow.