A NO-LICENSE TOWN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1598, 10 November 1905, Page 3

A NO-LICENSE TOWN.

MS W. D. LYSNAR VISITS ASHBURTON.

NO-LIOENSE CONDEMNED,

I to TimesJ I ' Ghristohuroh, last night. I. “tw. D. Lysnar, from your town, haß I just returned from tho Ashburton no* I lioonso district, whore ho has boon investiI and collecting information on the I offeot of prohibition there. I He says that what ho has seen and learnt there strengthens his contention I [ *“,»t no-lioenso is bad, and it has a serious effoot on the busiuess of tho plaoo. With a few exceptions, tradesmen and business I men all complain that business was nover so bad.

[ Thejerohibitionists try to explain this away by saying the farmers’ 00-operative business is expanding, and taking the trade from the others, but Mr Lysnar says this expansion does not account for tho decrease.

I tradesman allowed Mr Lysnar to I see his books, which showed that hie cash I ,ft ktngs on the Saturday befote no-lioeoee I ™» 8 from *£l7 to £lB. After no lioonso they fell t 0 £ll to £lB. I « orou ßh ratea woro doubled for the I “fat two years after no-lioense. I Only two building permits have been granted by tbe oounoil siuoe prohibition for new business promises within the build Img area of the town. The valuo of I I property has only increased by £1025 since I “P’lipanse, while values generally in other I distriots have made greater increases. I “ After all,” Mr Lysnar says, “ prohibi- I •ton at Ashourton is a strain. They have nve trains a day passing through from lioensed distriots, and they still have five I lioensed houses within the oounty, one only I twelve miles from Ashburton.” . Mr Lysnar has oolleoted a quantity of I information, whioh he proposes using at I meetings ho intends addressing when ho returns. | 1