NO-LICENSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2337, 2 November 1908, Page 7

NO-LICENSE.

ASHBURTON’S EXPERIENCE

A CLERGYMAN’S OPINION

' The Rev. E. Whitehouse, vicar of Ashburton., arrived in Gisborne on Saturday to deliver a number of addresses on the elfec.t of no-license in Ashburton. A “Times” reporter waited upon the rev. gentleman to obtain his views as to whether nolicense had been -beneficial to the Canterbury town'. “You must understand,”’ said Mr. Whitehouse, “that I was not always an advocate of no-license, for- although I always sympathised with to l np e ranee"weform, I did not think mo-license the best way to effect that reform. I took up my residence in Ashburton in 1902, land at the election in tliat year I felt that while I could not conscientiously vote for continuance I could not vote for nolicense, so I voted for reduction. After seeing the effect of no-liconse between the following July and the next general election I was convinced that no-license had been beneficial to the town, and I voted against .restoration.”

“Has property gone down in value in Ashburton since no-license was carried?”

“No!” Mr. Whiteibouso replied. “It has not. On the other hand the value of property' has increased. Here .are the official figures. In 1902, before no-license was carried, the rateable value of the borough was £22,613, and in 1908 the rateable value was £28,125, or an increase, roughly speaking, of about £6OOO. That perhaps is not a wonderful increase, but it shows that the town has not retrogressed, and it must ho ■remembered that the district is an agricultural one, and there are very few industries as in manufacturing towns.”

“Is it a general cry in Ashburton that business lias suffered through the change?”

“Such an assertion would be utterly false,” said the speaker. “On the contrary, business has improved, for more money .has been diverted into legitimate trading channels, and some traders have told me themselves that their business has doubled in volume. I will just give you one instance: the Farmers’ Co-operative Association bad a retail turn-over of £33,000 in 1902, and in 1907 the turn-over was £60,000, neatly double', and more than a normal . increase. These figures are from, the Asociation’s balance-sheet, and cannot be refuted, .and the story that business has decreased, or that business men have been forced to leave to start in licensed areas is utterly false.” “Has the moral conduct of d.he town improved under mo-license?” “It has decidedly ini proved. As to drunkenness under license, well I don’t wish to nun- the place down, but I will say it was no better than any other town, of its size. In 1902 there were 93 convictions for drunkenness, in 1907 the number was only 44, and during the past six months there were only 16 convictions on the charge. While I admit that the number of convictions do not always indicate the amount of drunkenness in a place, I will' assert that it is extremely rare to see a man in any way showing the signs of liquor in the streets. My experience only goes as far as two cases, and to my positive knowledge one man came up in the train drunk from Timaru'.” “Has the number of sly grog shops increased, and is it easy to obtain slv grog?” '“I have heard those statements made, and I can say that they are .absolutely untrue. A stranger in the town would find it extremely difficult to buy a drink, and there is no temptation staring him in the face. If an unknown person tried to obtain drink he would he looked upon with suspicion. Sly* grog shops are hard to find, and they are so very few that I believe, and I have the opinion of the police with me, that if no-license continues for another three years there will not he a sly grog shop in the town.” “What are the relative chances for a young man. starting life in a license and in a no-license area?” “Infinitely better in a nodicense ■area,” said Mr. Whitehouse, with emphasis. “The temptation of the open bar is away from him, and while in a licensed area the liquor vendor looks for the young man,.;in a no-license area the young man has to look for the liquor vendor, and he is hard to find. A man has to be fairly low down before he will be served with sly grog, for no respectable man wall go into a sly grog shop. That.is one of the beet results, in any opinion., of no-license, it saves the young men from growing into drunkards, and every father of boys should vote to close the bars for the sake of his children. The young men then, find better .and more elevating social conditions tihan going into* bo to Is at mtervate to drink; they are more gentlennanly in their conduct; and after seeing the effect of the reform upon youn" men no thoughtful person would vote for -restoration. Under no-1 icens© the working classes &ro bettor clothed, better fed, and. live in better homes. lam convinced that the abolition of the open bar improves the social conditions. That is the opinion of most thoughtful men, and nearly all the women of Ashburton.”

OPEN AIR ADDRESS. On Saturday night the Rev. E. Whitehouse spoke upon the effect or mo-license in Ashburton at the Sievw right memorial. aThe ißev. F. W. Chatter ton also delivered a short address. After the no-license advocates had spoken-, a Mr. Davis mounted the box to controvert' the statements of the previous speakers. He was repeatedly interrupted' in his remarks by the crowd, and at times he appeared 1 to resent the interjections. After Mr. Davis had spoken, the Itev. Mr. Whitehouse replied to his statements. Mr. J. F. Sheridan also spoke in support of continuance. He challenged Mr. 'Whitehouse to prove that a certain house destroyed by fire had been rebuilt, which Mr. Whitehouse had asserted was being reconstructed, the loser ttf forfeit £SO to the Gisborne Hospital. Mr. Whitehouse accepted the offer, but as Mr. Sheridan had apparently misunderstood the exact [house, the position was explained, and the challenge was mot pushed. The Rev. E. Whitehouse will address the men at the Waihuka trail•ivay works this evening, and. will deliver a public address in His Majesty’s Theatre to-morrow evening, Mr. .Whitehouse specially invites all mod-

orates to come to the meeting, and hear wliat he has to say. Ho will be glad to answer any reasonable questions, as his.desire is to clear up misunderstandings aiid remove misconceptions as to the condition of Ashburton under no-license.