NO-LICENSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2339, 4 November 1908, Page 5

NO-LICENSE.

ADDRESS BY REV. E. WHITEHOUSE.

There was a good attendance at His Majesty’s Theatre fast evening to hear the Rev. E. White-house, vicar of Ashburton, speak on the no-license question. The chair was taken by the Rev. F. W. Chatterion, and the Rev. AY. Lamb also occupied a seat; on the platform.

On rising to speak, Mr. AA'hitehouse was greeted with applause. He commenced by referring to the kindness lie had received on this visit to Gisborne. He did not intend to vil.kfy (he liquor trade, contained some fine men. Unfortunately they were not- r/.l alike, and the trade had been degenerated by the others. He made reference to a letter which had been published as an advertisement in Gisborne under the title of “A Mother’s Pitiful Story,” of which a copy had been sent to him in Ashburton. AYhen he read it he thought he had better see the writer, as he had made up his mind to get at the truth. The lady had readily answered any question he put to her, and had told him that the cause of her boy’s downfall was the sly grog shop. No-license was not responsible for the sly grog shop. It took over a part of the hotel business, that part which the hotel coin'd cover, but which came to light when no-license was carried. The boy's statement that there were 40 sly grog shops in Ashburton was irresponsible, and could not carry any weight, and he (the speaker) maintained it was untrue. He referred tc the sly grog .-■oiling that took place in Asnbuvton before no-license was carried. There was no law on the statutes which was not broken, but because a few broke a law there was no reason why it should be repealed. On the Cast sly grog raid in Ashburton the police had only found three bottles ox whisky in one place and one bottle in another. He was convinced that nolicense had only to be carried and given a proper chance and the sly «grog shop would disappear entirely. Some people thought ’there were sly grog shops a’X over Ashburton, but such was not the case. The speaker then dealt at length with a. circular published yesterday entitled ‘‘Nolicense from a Business Standpoint.” lie controverted many of the statements made therein, and referred particularly to the voting on the nolicense resolution recently before tho Anglican Synod in Christchurch, which, lie said, had been wrongly reported. In reference to the man of moderate views who believed that the liquor trade was bad, but was not quite sure whether aiodioense was the proper remedy, the speaker said he sympathised with him. He had been ii the same position himself until he bud seen the benefits of no-license. He had been told that liquor would be taken into the homes and that there would be .utter demoralisation, tic had, however, discovered that liquor went into no houses except those which had learned to keqp liquor before no-lieense was carried. The absence of the bar in Ashburton had taken away tlie power of suggestion, and it had saved many of the youngmen. Ho asked if tho audience would help ono of tlie greatest social reforms of tbo ago. or would they take the responsibility of leaving, it alone ? Ho hoped they would decide for the reform by striking out the top line. (Loud applause.) Mr. Davis then took the platform and spoke in opposition to Mr AVhitehouse for five minutes, and the audience certainly seemed to derive considerable amusement from his remarks.

Mr. Whit chouse made a brief reply, am] while a collection was being taken up, the Rev. W. Lamb announced that a Young Men’s League had been formed to work for no-license, and he made an appeal for. .recruits. A number of questions were asked Mr. White-house, to which he satisfactorily replied, and on the motion of the Rev. W. Lamb, a hearty vote of thanks, accompanied-\by, .prolonged applause, was currie'cL ..