CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2159, 7 April 1908, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Correspondence on public niattore is wolcomod at all timos, but it must bo distinctly understood that tilts journal iB in no way associated with tho opinions of its correspondents.] THE .COMING NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN. [To THE Editoii.] Sir, —I liavo read your reporter's interesting remarks, luicnt his interview with .Mr. Kerr, tho newly appointed organising secretary for this electorate. And may 1, is a uio|dorato drinker, one who takes a glass <if ale, or leaves it alone if ho thinks fit, be allowed to mako a few remarks on this all-important point, “No-License.” Now, to myself, and scores such as myself, aye, hundreds of electors, tho very marked increase of drunkenness, and all its attendant degradation and debauchery in our littlo community, is dreadful. I read with tho greatest pain, that during the past quarter, ending on tho 51st, 125 persons (amongst whom, sail to relato, were 10 women) were, charged with the crime of intoxication, as against a total ol 284 for £ the whole of 1907. This ijicreaso is apalliug. What are wo, as a community, coming to? And yet perpetuate as if. were, to glorify tho individuals that assist to bring about this deplorable stato of things, a leading licensed victualler of our town, Mr Frank Harris, mine host of tho Albion Hotel, is going to seek the suffrages of us burgesses, for tho Council scat made vacant by the resignation of Mr. W. Miller 1 And I mako bold to say that this genial bonifaco will get in too, for I have sad experience of my own to satisfy me, that liquor, .and the ring that commands its sale here in Gisborne, reigns supremo. But :it was not to air this, or any other grievance of mine, that 1 crave a portion of your space. It is to suggest, with all modesty, a paunacea for tho abominable state of affairs that now rules this, town, and electorate with the grip of “Tammany” itself. I respectfully suggest to our No-Liconso friends that m place of tho three issues now placed before electors—issues that in many cases are not understandable ■to the ordinary elector —just two plain issues should be placed belorc us—not at next election unfortunately, for all sorts of good caro will be taken by Beer, Bung and Company, that thero is no tampering with tho Licensing Act until after tho coming elections. My issues would be, sir: (1), I vote for continuance of licenses as they at present exist; (2) I vote for the discontinuance of liconscs. _ Now, « No. 1 issue were carried in, say, tlio Gisborno electorate, it would be a mandato from tho electors,, for the Government to take over all licensed houses that tho Governor in Council cil might deem advisable in. the public interest, within tho electorate, not at Bung and Co.’s valuations for goodwill'and all that “Tommyrot,” but just on tho borough, town board, or county valuations for such premises. Tlio state would then put in their own managers,, as they liavo now at “Tho Hermitago” (Mt. Cook), Hamner Springs, etc., and run these houses on strictly moderate drinking lines, where no man would be allowed to got intoxicated within, or take liquor out in bottlo, jug, or jar (for, sir, I would not countenance tho tot, or glass at home) on any consideration. As a corrollary to "this, private clubs (those hot-beds of excessive and sly drinking, also its fell-attendant gambling) would lose their charters, for I am Englishman enough, sir, to go into a licensed house for iny glass of ale, and not cafe ono dump who sees me; and so should every man. The houses that the state determined not to take over, would be closed at the end of the licensed period, and the licensee could devote his time and energies to other channels of commercial enterprise. Compensation for houses closed is another ,and more fragrant propaganda of “Tommy-rot.” Do 1 if a grocer, butcher, draper or what not, get compensation if, through want of public patronage, or other causes, I have to shut down my business? Not much 1 Then why should Beer, Bung and Co., who, wo know well, deal for “cash” every time, and who, from tho enormous profits (if their calling, .provide for them-■D-lves a big banking account. If tlio State owned the licensed houses, I maintain wo would, as a community, be infinitely inoro sober, more abluent in finance, and a thousand times better than all, would bo the fact, sir, that the sorry spectacle to be soon every day and every night here in Gisborno, of intoxicated youths, men, and' women, (of both races) would bo unknown. A manager of a liconscd liouso would have nothing to consider, but keep a first-class house, capable of accommodating all grades of society that., paid for same, and he would know that if he permitted drunkenness m his house, his appointment as a public servant, would at once he determined. If issue No. 2 was carried by the electors, well tlio self same 'course would follow as maintains now. Our no-license' friends, I believe, won’t have any tinkering with issues, that is, they fight wholly and solely, “rub out the Top Line.” Yes, .rood enough, perhaps, but my friends, were tho immense body ot “moderates” (of whom I am oneH iriven an issue such as No. 1 of above, to vote-upon, and aided also bv vour powerful co-operation, the liquor sales would be enormously amended. If the electors decided not to close up the houses as licensed, then you no-license ladies and gentlemen, would at least have the satisfaction of knowing that the sale of liquor within your respective neighborhood, was safeguarded in such a way that the appalling spread of drunkenness, debauchery, and crime, was swept away. -FoT it is, to my mind, a necessity for .a limited number of licensed houses to he allowed in certain centres, and in certain spots on our main roads. The merely “Boozing Dens,” that now exist on so many of our bye-roads, are not required in the public interest at all, and their respective licenses should lie determind. —I am, tc., “MODERATE.”