THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1925. RESTORATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4902, 13 November 1925, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY. WEDNESDAY. & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1925. RESTORATION.

With the final count of the local licensing figures-, ■ which. was .completed on Wednesday afternoon, the Ohinemuri electorate becomes a “wet” electorate, and at the same time establishes a precedent not only in New Zealand, but probably in the world —that of a “dry” afiea becoming “wet.” Certainly the circumstances are unusual. This being so, a review of the circumstances bearing on the introduction of no-license 17 years ago on a three-fifths majority is interesting. The position is by no means, on all-fours with that of other electorates where no-license was from time to time carried wh<e thei liquor, laws permitted individual districts to go “dry.” In ; those cases the decisions gave expression to the will and' wish of the electors, uninfluenced by considerations apart from the broad question of liquor or no liquor. Not so with Ohinemuri, where the resent-, ment of the drinkers of alcoholic beverages against the attitude of the licensed victuallers was the deciding factor. That this was not so cannot we gainsaid : those responsible for the conversion of Ohinemuri into a “dry” area were the workers of Waihi, with an overwhelming majority in favour of the issue and a heavy vote for a reduction of the numbei' of licensed houses. Now,, as to the 1925 poll, which has restored licenses. In Paeroa, where the vote was nearly two to. one for restoration (683) in preference to no-license (3'57), and somewhat larger than was the case three years ago, it is quite evident, that the business aspect has entered nently into the question, as no less than 428 votes were cast for national prohibition. This suggests that quite a number of prohibitionists, voted restoration, which can only be interpreted to mean that no-license, is re tgarded by them as detrimental to the business interests of the town. They would prefer the country as a whole to go “dry,” but resent the disadvantage placed upon them-by local no-license —a somewhat selfish attitude, perhaps, but clearly an indication of their views. One of the first steps to be taken now is the appointment of five representatives, presided over by a magistrate, to form a licensing committee, which will to«a large extent make the success or otherwise of the restoration of the liquor traffic. Paeroa will now. be placed on an equal, footing with Thames and Te Aroha, and the cry, “If we had licenses the town would go ahead,” will be a voice of the past. It now largely rests with the tradespeople in Paeroa as to whether their businesses increase under the liquor regime or not. The large increase in the State control vote clearly indicates that a large number of persons desire some reform, in the liquor trade, and the Prime-Minister is not likely to ignore the indication. The .Ohinemuri electorate, of which Paeroa is the centre, will, be able to commence life afresh, and it is only the united efforts of the residents, and particularly the tradespeople, that can move the town ahead on *sound, pre-, gressive lines. It must be remembered that all eyes will be on Ohinemuri during the next three years ,and its progress’or otherwise will be watched with the keenest interest. Therefore, let every one of us seize opportunities as they present themselves to put our town “on the map," and by example show the opponents to the liquor traffic that restoration has been of value to progress and sound economical development.