CONTINUANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2342, 7 November 1908, Page 5

CONTINUANCE.

THE MAYOR AS AN ADVOCATE

AN UPROARIOUS 3IEETING

Tho public of Gisborne crowded every available inch of room in His Alajesty’s Theatre last evening, when the Alayor, Mr. W. D. Lysnar, delivered an address in advocacy of continuance -of llicensesi in Gisborne. When the 3!ayor appeared on the ■stage he was greoted with mingled applause and- hoots. Mr. John Tow.nley, who acted as chairman, was received with applause, and cries of ‘‘Good old John.” Ho asked the audience to give 3lr. Lysnar an attentive hearing, and hoped that- all would help to keep order.

Mi*. Lysnar said he had come forward to discuss the question of the continuance of tho liquor traffic, as a citizen. When he was elected as Mayor ho said he reserved the right to speak on the No-license question if he wished to do so. While the 31-ayoral election was on he was approached by the Prohibition Party and asked if ho would consent not to speak against No-license ' if the Prohibition Party would support him. Ho answered that lie did not want, tho support of the No-license Party under those conditions. He had been told the No-liecnse Party had organised to interrupt the- meeting, and he had received a postcard calling him a devil-dodger, and threatening him with .rotten eggs. The postcard was sent by a No-liccnso man. Voices: Provo it.

He would sooner go out of tlic town altogether—(hear, hear) —than livo in a town that throw rotten eggs and carried- No-license. Some time ago he wrote a pamphlet suggesting that boys under the ago of 21 years should not be served with liquor, and tho result was that tlie law was amended so that the age at which boys could bo served was raised to 18 years. He bad also written to Parliament advocating the prosecution of all persons found on licensed premises after closing hours.

The meeting was at this time interrupted by a noise of stamping and calling out behind the stage, and the audience lapsed into a merry humor. Air. Lysnar said he blamed the extreme Prohibitionisis for puttng forth statements that were not correct, and misleading tho jmblic. He admitted that drink caused -deplorable evils, but- he drew swords on the question of reform. Prohibition was all ungodly reform, and was immoral. If a person would only weigh the question he would see that prohibition was not the remedy -for the evils of drink. He did not want to leave the district; but he would Jiave to do so if prohibition was carried in Gisborne. The Prohibition Party had brought forward the Rev. Mr. Findlay, and when he (Mr. Lysnar) said that thevalue of 'property in Clutha had decreased, Air. Findlay said it was a lie. He (the speaker )had tho figures to prove that tho statement was not a lie. Yet tho same clergyman had come back to him afterwards and asked him to get him a billet to advocate Continuance. When he (Air. Lysnar) intimated that he intended to go on to the platform to advocate Continuance, all sorts of tactics were adopted to try . and keep him off. That was wrong, and lie would not show the white feather. (A voice : “’You’re a hero.”) -If t-lie people carried prohibition he would never forgive himself. (Laughter.) Who were asking them to vote No-license ? (Voices: “Commonsense” and applause.) The frequent interruptions at this time rendered tho speaker inaudible. After a while, 31 r. Lysnar, continuing, said that the No-liecnse Party had paid agitators. A voice: What do you get ? 3!r. LjGnar: Nothing. Another speaker: You do on the slv.

3lr. Lysnar: No! not on tlic sly. I am willing to make a sworn declaration that Ido not receive a penny. 1 have spent £SOO in this work. Derisive whistling followed this statement. 3lr. Lysnar: You can whistle ii you like. 3lr. Lysnar proceeded with his remarks, and referring to the lainbingdown case, said that if there were no licenses, lambing-down could go on and the people would not say “Boo.” Voices : Rot! Rot! Air. Lysnar: ‘What is it you want? Voices: “Prohibition” and “Cheap beer.”

3lr. Lysnar: Do you want to improve the position? I can show you that prohibition won’t improve the position. A voice: You can’t.

3lr. Lysnar: Can’t I? A mother - roe ballot-box on the 17tli and put drink into her house. (Derisive laughter.) 31 r Lysnar: “No liquor, no license” I will agree with, but never with Noliecnse -and plenty of drink. I will show you No-license does not stop drinking. "Don’t take my word or the- parson’s word ; but I will quote the magistrates to prove what I s-ay-There can- be breweries in. the electorate and depots on tho borders qf the electorate, and all the- people would have to do would be to telephone for tho number of casks they

A voice: They will carry No-license in the Bay. of Plenty district. Air. Lysnar: No, they won’t; they are too intelligent. Air. Lysnar then produced a large bottle, and said it was a typical Nolicense district spirit bottle used by person's running grog shops. A voice: Let us pray. (Laughter.) Proceeding, .Mr, Lysnar said lie had asked Air. Northcroft, S.AI., why he opposed No-license, and that Alagistrate had said that No-license increased the number of sly-grog shops. AVliat was the use of trying a thing they knew nothing about? A voice: We tried you as Mayor. Mr. Lysnar: Yes, and the Prohibition party tried to slop me. I hope that when, the numbers ,go up on the 17th,'you won’t immorally vote liquor out of the town. Hoots, groans, and boo-hoos. Air. Lysnar: Yes;.you can boo if you like". (Loud laughter followed.) There was much noise and stamping of feet at this stage, and Air. .Lysnar was continually interrupted. He accused the No-licjmse Party of causing the interruptions. • The Rev. W. Grant and Air. John Somervell denied the accusation, and

appealed- to the public to give Mr. Lysnar a hearing. Tho stamping of feet was, ,however, continued at intervals. .

3ir. Lysnar proceeded to read quotations from a pamphlet published by him.some time ago on Continuance. The audience became very uneasy, and frequently asked him to “Cut it short.”

Mr. J. Somervell asked Mr. Lysnar why ho did not accept the Rev. Mr. Parry’s challenge to argue the matter out.

31r. Lysnar’s reply was that the rev. gentleman was only seeking for the favor of the people. In conclusion, Mr. Lysnar proceeded to criticise a pamphlet advocating No-license, 'bearing the signatures of many ministers of religion. As each name was mentioned, the audience loudly applauded While- the speaker was questioning the figures in the pamphlet, there were frequent cries of “Cut it short,” “Time,” “Sit down,” “Rot,” and “Dry up.” The speaker, however, did not- take any notice, and continued speaking until 'll o’clock.

Mr. Lysnar then announced that ho woidd answer questions, and a perfect shower of interrogations were sent up. The audience evidently regarded the whole proceeding as a free entertainment, and the speaker could seldom be heard above the laughter and din. It way after midnight when the crowd dispersed. At tho conclusion of the questions, the Rev. F. W. Ohatterton proposed a vote of thanks to tho speaker for the vigor and earnestness with which he had i>laced his views before the meeting. 3lr. Ohatterton took exception to the Mayor’s remarks regarding tho post-card, contending that there was nothing to show that it had come from any no-license supporters. Mr. Gaudin seconded tho motion, but the audience was leaving at the time. The Mayor proposed a.vote of thanks to the chairman, and tho proceedings- terminated. SOMJ3 QUOTATIONS.

. The following are a few of tho many remarks made by Mr. Lysnar during tlic course of his speech, which caused much merriment to the audience :

“Never take the word of a parson.” “There is many a man in the district who will vote no-lieense in order that lie may outer into the business of sly-grog selling.”“I would sooner put my hand on a butcher’s block, and have it cut olf inch by inch than vote for Nolicense.”

“They have even banded themselves together to keep me out- of the County Council on account of my speaking against No-license.” “I have quoted nobody whom I have not got their name, and nobody of any standing.” “He is an old, elderly man, and lie is now in his grave to-day” (referring to a deceased medical practitioner). “Bishop Julius hurled the lie at me, and immediately cleared out of the colony to Norfolk Island.” “We do not- want our town girdled with a reform that is bristling with rotten eggs.” “Prohibition! It is an ungodly and immoral reform.” "i do not consider that I woidd be doing my duty as Alayor of the town if I did not come forward and try to save you from this terrible danger.” “At present, ladies and gentlemen, you have got prohibition on W'liataupoko and Kaiti, but I tell you, if you carry no-license slv-grog shops will spring up all over the suburbs.” “I am proud to be a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, and I think it is much better for a young man to drink there than in the ‘nubs,’ as if he is inclined to go toortar his friends can restrain him.”

“It’ll be a fat tiling for Ormond and Tatapouri if they carry no-license and the people will go there, besides, the fare is only 15s, and people will be going to Napier every day.” “It’s the only way you’ll over get rid of me, by voting No-license, and if you do that you’ll clean mo right out- of the town” (which called forth from the audience a remark, “We will vote No-license.”)

The Revs. 3V. Grant -and W. Lamb will- reply, to Mr. Lysnar’s address ■from the Sicvwriglit Memorial to- - flight.