NO LICENSE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2059, 20 April 1907, Page 2

NO LICENSE

_ AT CLOSE ‘ QUARTERS. At His Majesty’s Theatre last evening beforo a numerous audienco the Rov. F. W. Isitt lectured on “At Close Quarters.” Tho Rev. Mr Chatterton presided, and was supported by the Revs. Grant and Griffon and Messrs Graham and l’alk.

In introducing the speaker, the chairman referred to the groat campaign the reverend gentleman .was carrying on, and the sterling qualities lie possessed and threw into his life'yvork, ,

Upon 4 rising the lecturer was received with applause. Ho dealt with early reminiscences of his woi'k at close quarters with the liquor traffic. Somo of tho first elders of the church were liquor dealers, and ho thought nothing of that. In fact his doctors often prescribed strong drink for him, which he took. This was in ’7l and ’72. Dr Smith, of Balclutha, was the last man that ever got him to taste a drop of liquor. The first thing that opened liis eyes was the fact that in little Balclutha he buried more drnkards in three years there than in fifteen years elsewhere. That made a prohibitionist of him straight off, and it was a good thing for Balclutha that it followed the same example. Balclutha now was tho happiest, cleanest, and most prosperous electorate in New Zealand. He dealt with the growth of prohibition in the Catlins, Balclutha, and Bruce districts. In speaking of the ballot, lie declared that they never had a fair poll. They had been it was the - Yau it " or"c..e S/mmfimeg officer. But in the face of that they had a majority of 15,000 for prohibition, and 200,000 prohibitionists. He was pleased to say that every Methodist, Baptist, and Congregationalist minister in the colony was a prohibitionist, and the Presbyterian Church was with them to such an extent that it did not matter. Both in the colo- j nies and at Home they had the best : men working with them for the cause . of prohibition. One of the lai ac- . tions of their late Premier wai to j make an extension of the license poll , from three years to six. They had | the Parliament against then, in New | Zealand. The publicans mde their money easily and spent i; freely. That was where they would >e beaten . by money . If they liadsufficient : money and were not cheiicd, they could carry prohibition pally, and coming to close quarters fith the liquor traffic throttle it ti its final destruction. j In replying to a questiq by Mr Long, the lecturer statedtliat no- . license was not a perfect rtiedy, for although no-license was dried in this electorate people couhljo to Te Karaka, which was in anther electorate, and get liquor tire. But where the facilities for drilingwere reduced the drinking wou be reduced also, and they wouljnot be content until they had caled no- ! license in tho electorate inrhicli Te Karaka was. ; 5 Mr. J. G. Cox ariked if ty would 1 not advance their cause m<T rapidly , by granting compensation j Mr. Isitt said that coiensation was never granted for aj cause s , 1

advancement. Ho considered that tho last man to bo compensated was tho publican. Mr. Long asked if State control would not bo a solution to tho liquor questionMr lsitt stated that' whorover State control had been tried it had beon. a failure. In tho canteens under military control it had been found impossible to kooi) tho men from accepting bribes. Other questions wore replied to. The Rov. Mr. Grant proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, and referred to the splendid t work that Mr lsitt and his brother had done for no-licenso, even when the cause was held in contempt. Ho thought they should not wait until Mr. lsitt had passed away to show their appreciation of his services. He assured the lecturer that Gisborne would do its best, by fair means, at tho next poll to carry no-licenso. Mr. Long and the Rev. Mr. Griffon also thanked Mr. lsitt for his able address.