KING COUNTRY PROHIBITION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 75, 27 March 1908, Page 3

KING COUNTRY PROHIBITION.

Rev. Isitt at Te Kuiti

The approach of the next general election, bringing with it the local option vote is stirring the members of the prohibition party to work in the interests of no-license, and on Tuesda}' evening last the Rev. F. M. Isitt delivered a lecture in Hetet's Hall, Te Kuiti, in the interests of Prohibition. Mr James Boddie occupied the chair, and there was an excellent attendance, including a good proportion of ladies. The Chairman, in introducing the lecturer, requested a fair and impartial hearing for Mr Isitt, who as was widely known, had a most intimate knowledge of the drink question, of which he had made a special stud}' during a number of years. Mr Isitt, who was greeted with applause, stated in his opening remarks that he understood there was a peculiar position in the King Country with regard to local option. That portion of the electorate which included the prohibition area had the power of voting no-license and assisting to carry prohibition throughout the electorate. On the other hand the people had no power to acquire licenses, as the district was specially prohibited. The position was peculiar, but the prohibition party had nothing to do with it, and they could only treat matters as they stood. The speaker quoted figures to show the extent of the drink traffic in the Dominion, and stated the number of convictions of first offenders for drunkenness, during the past seven years, was approximately 35.000. Young New Zealand was growing up drunken, a circumstance which he attributed largely to the effects of the recent Boer war. Medical science declared against the use of alcohol and the crusade against the use of liquor was being actively assisted by the foremost of the day. Mr Isitt recounted the history of the prohibition movement ift New Zealand, and declared emphatically that in all cases where no-license had been carried the benefits in every respect hrfd been wonderful. Evidence in support of this was to be found in the fact that people, who had previonsly opposed prohibition, in the places mentioned, had been brought to support it. Sly grog selling had been resorted to in some of the districts, but we had evidence that the same evil existed, to a startling degree, in Auckland. However, even sly grog' selling was being stamped out. in addition to a large number of criminal offences, and when Mr Spragg paid a visit to Ashburton he found the police cell had been turned into an office. In the interests of humanity he appealed to the audience to vote no-license, and do away with all licensed houses in the district. There were three licensed houses at Waitara, and if the King Country people closed them they would be helping to make New Zealand the cleanest place in the Empire. There was every reason to hope that prohibition would be carried in Taranaki this election, and by carrying it in Waitara the movement would have the greatest advertisement it had yet received in the country. At the conclusion of the address several questions were answered by the lecturer. The Rev. Mr Mitchell, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Isitt for his address, said they were glad to have so important a matter brought before them in such an able manner. Perhe preferred living in a no license district,, but the peculiar position of the King Country was broadly f§lt. In going about among the residents, he found there was a strong feeling that the local people vfere Tiardly justified in voting away licenses in' a distant portion of the electorate with which we had practically no connection, especially when we had no voice in saying whether we should, or should not, have licenses in our own district. The vote was carried unanimously as was the usual vote to the chair.