The Reform League.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 576, 21 November 1902, Page 3

The Reform League.

(Published by Arrangement.)

(To the Editor of the Times.) Sir,—l have road with considerable interest tho various-lottcrs contributed to your columns both for and against tho continuance of the licensing sytein in your midst, and I notice that a Reform League is being formed to reform tho trade. Low, though I have been away from Gisborno for a°good many years, I feel just as much interested in your welfare as ever, especially in a matter of reform. I would like to call tho reformists’ attention to the tact that your vote on 25th inst. gives you the opportunity to vote only for continuance, roduotion, or abolition. Now, Mr Lysnar and his Reform Loaguc have shown their weakness, and acknowledged that the trade needs reforming. 1 «*'• cetvo of one of' " . °nty conI .. alternative, and that is uio abolition of tho traffic as it oxists, and when that is done I think the reformists will get tho cobwebs off their brain and see that tho reform has been accomplished even better than they in their most sanguine moments ever imagined. A great many people have a great aversion to tho word prohibition, and I am ono of those; but when you coutc to consider that you have the vilest kind of prohibition at tbe present time, viz., 999 people out of a thousand arc prohibited from selling alcoholic liquors, while the odd thousandth man is given a monopoly so that ho may exploit tho other 999 by charging them exorbitant rates for their grog. Take tho present system of the carrying on of the liquor traffic, and I defy any living being toshow an intelligent jury that its continuance is of any benefit to the community, while on tho other hand thousands of instances may bo quoted that it is of harm to any community. On the othei hand, the abolition of the traffic would dc the community no harm in tho slightest degree. But I agree with Messrs Lysnat

aid Co. There is a great aecd for reform in tlm liouor trade, and the first step is to a-.vav the ground by abolishing the j trade altogether, and I think you will find trio reform is accomplished. To the people of Gisborne, I say, 0U the 25th ot November, take your pencil in your bauds and with one stroke, anuihilato the brewers’ trust —tho vilest trust that octapya like, has got its tentacles firmly entwined and its suckers drawing tho heart’s blood out of tho pcop'o of the ' Auckland Trot inco.— I an., ■tc , V. Y. Ross, j exu. Waibi, Novi liber 14. 190'-. i One thing every lady requires is a. ; .Utility stylish Lace Collar. Scores o , designs to select from, direct from Lit !• manufacturer, and the Best Value wc have, svet oftetedj—.Cj ROSIE & -CO*