CORRESPONDENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 562, 4 November 1902, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

PROHIBITION IN NORSEWOOD AND “ II.il.”

(To the Editor of the Times)

Sir,—l would Ire obliged n y< would publish the enclosed letter wliir 1 have received from Mr W. Evan i hearing on the above subject, an which speaks for itself, if you wi kindly get your correspondent 11.11. t i come out from behind the hedge, c let me know his name privately should lie bo ashamed or too haslni to have it made public, I will b pleased to arrange an appointment 0 introduce him, as requested, to M Evans, who is ready to enlighten oi instruct Mr IJ.II. as to the evil elfee of Prohibition as lie and his friend, experienced it in Norsewood.—f am etc., W. DOUGLAS LY,SNAIL W. Douglas Lysnar, Esq., Gisborne. Dear Sir,—At your request, I confirm in writing regarding my experience in Norsewood while the licenses were taken away from the public houses. In consequence of a murder there, I ami others joined together to return a Temperance Committee on the Licensing Bench, pledged to cancel the license of the Orriiondville pub-lic-house, which we blamed for having supplied the murderer with drink. I gave a good deal of time in order to return the Temperance Committee, and spent £5 in expenses ; and I can safely say it, was the worst work and money T ever expended in iny life—for the Committee not only cancelled the one license, hut cancelled the whole five. It, was the means of bringing drink lo private houses, caused liouble in families, and learnt young women and men to drink, as well as old ones. I can say positively that through no- license being there a number of my own circle of friends, both men and women, liecame drunkards, who would never have been drunkards if licenses had not been taken away. I notice a correspondent in 1 lie local papers, signing himself “ h 11.-,” questions the information f gave you aoout Norsewood, but I am ready to meet Mr Fill. at any time, and give him facts of the harm that was done by taking the licenses away. Perhaps if it had not trod upon my own toes, I would not speak so openly at present bill Tam willing to do this for the gooil of the people at large in this district. I thought I was doing good in opposing licenses, but, exper'cnce teaches fools. 1 was a fool once, but thank God, f have my eyas open now, and 1 won’t he a fool il gaiu in tins no-license business, and will raise my voice and baud against Prohibition.— 1 am, etc., VV. EVANS. Carrier Gisborne to Whatalutu. p.S.—lf we arc to have any alteration, let us have tree trade,