PROHIBITION IN NORSEWOOD

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 575, 20 November 1902, Page 3

PROHIBITION IN NORSEWOOD

(To tiie Editor of the Times.) Sir,—ln your issue of Uie Mil November, there appears a letter signed W. Evans, in which lie is relating his experience in Norsewood at tiie time of i’roliiliition ; hut I can confidently say fiis statement- is entirely without foundation, as Mr Evans was not known in Norsewood at the time, nor did lie spend any money by assisting to return a temperance committee. I can truthfully state that drunkenness was not carried on to tiie extent as lie pictures it in his letter of tiie Ith. True, we have law-breakers in every line of life. The law says ‘‘You shall not steal,'’ but still we can hardly pick up a paper without seeing that someone has committed theft anti been convicted. So also with the sly-grog sellers ; hut it was only to lie obtained by the initiated, and not by every one who wished for a drink ; so it was only a very small purl of the community that obtained the ‘‘ refreshing draught,” as it is called. f can endorse tiie statement in Mr li.H.’s letter, as he is a well-known authority in this district, as well as all over llawkc’s iiay. More than that, I can say about Mr W. Evans, I for my part, a,s one oi tiie first settlers in the place, can not remember Mr Evans, nor can any one else, unless he should be Uie person that had the charge of the Crown Hotel for a short while after tiie hotel was re-opened, li so, I am pleased to see he lias started to pull the reins oi a team of horses, instead of tiie handles of a beer-pump, and I should advise him, next time he rushes into print on the question oi Prohibition in Norsewood to state facts and not mere fabrications. Go ahead, Gisborne ! Vote for Prohibition, and do not be afraid of the result.—l am, etc.,

A. OLSEN, Painter, Chief Ruler Rechabite Tent Norsewood, Nov. 17th, 1902.