CONTROL OF THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2079, 14 May 1907, Page 2

CONTROL OF THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

A meeting of the No-License League was held last night at St. Andrew’s schoolroom, the Rev. Chatterton occupying the chair. The weather was showery, and the attendance, in consequence, was. small. The executive recommended that Air. AI. AlcLeod be the representative of the League at the forthcoming convention next month.—This was confirmed.

It was ..decided that the name of tlio League bo altered from the AVaiapu No-License League to the Gisborne No-License League. The alteration was necessitated by the boundary changes: On the motion of the Rev. Griffin, it was docided to meet fortnightly commencing in July. The item of the evening was Air. A. Graham’s lecture on tlio control systems of the liquor traffic. In the course of his remarks he said that a system was necessary. In America maiiy legislative attempts had been made with this object, and Norway and Sweden had tackled the'question before England did. The houses being put under the surveillance-of the police, there was free trade, and high license fees (increasing greatly the cost of liquor, out' of reach of the poorer classes). The Gothenburg and other systems were touched upon by the lecturer.. He considered that there was no such thing as the moderate use of liquor. Tile liquor traffic should not bo conducted differently from ordinary businesses; the present system meant monopolies. On the question of abolition of barmaids, be asked-; why a trade which was unfit for females should be tolerated. Rowntree and Sherwell’s booklet came in for some severe criticism, the lecturer maintaining the opinion that the facts of the state of affairs in America were incorrect. The traffic should be done away with altogether; all the evils arose from the excess of indulgence. The diocese of Waiapu appointed a Commission t:o go into the question of the Gothenburg system, and the information secured was to the effect that its principles were the elimination of private profit, the institutions to be conducted in the public interest, the managers to be men of good repute, and on fixed salaries. Honest efforts were made to improve the habits of 'the people and good work was done, but it was not a signal success and had completely broken down. The Canterbury diocese also investigated the same system, and came to a more favorable conclusion. Jnit the lecturer stated ■ that their Inquiry'was not so thorough and complete as tile local one. The only system was No-license, and it had worked well wherever it had been tried. The lecturer quoted statistics showing, the amazing progress of prohibition in the States. A discussion took place at the close of the address. The opinion was expressed that State or municipal control was not a right thing, and the county and Charitable Aid Board’s coffers should he replenished from such a source.