The Proof Of the Pudding.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42759, 10 August 1905, Page 2

The Proof Of the Pudding.

(To THE EDITOR.) Sir, —You have been kind enough on former occasions to publish articles from my pen upon the results of NoLicense criminality. I contend, Sir, that anything that will reduce crime to one-fourth of its present volume, and reduce drunkenness more even than is worthy, both of all the space a newspaper editor will give it, and of the best consideration of every voter in New Zealand. I will endeavonr as briefly as possible to show that No-license has accomplished both these facts at Port Chalmers: — xr> I M ■a *4 O o 43 ot s o P S H p O

Most of the 53 drunkards were arrested at the Port Chalmers railway station returning drunk from. Dunedin and hence should be charged up as Dunedin drunkards. To show how nearly crime has been “ blotted out” at Port Chalmers, I will analyse the last six months’ record. There were 27 drunkards arrested. I ascertained that 22 of these were arrested either at the railway station or on their road home from it. There were also 11 offences of various sorts. The three principal of these were one insolence in a railway carriage, one violence in a railway carriage, and also one indecent act in a railway carriage.

This shows where the crime comes from —“ By their fruits ye shall know them” and the fruit of the licensed liquor traffic is insolence, violence and indecency. This then leaves a beggarly total of 13 offences and drunkenness against a total of 147 similar lapses tl at might have been expected under license in tbo same period. This is strong testimony. The principal business man of the Port, Mr John Watson, has also given testimony that as regards business, the Port was getting along very nicely indeed. The man who is perhaps the principal employer of labour outside the Union S.S. Co., has also been heard to declare that “it was as good as £SO a year to him, because of his men keeping more regular time.” I am, etc., G. Bernard Nicholls. Dunedin. Otago Agent of New Zealand Alliance.

Last year of License 191 99 293 1904 No License 53 24 77 Total reduction in one year 216