NO LICENSE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43380, 1 October 1908, Page 2

NO LICENSE.

To the Editor. Sin,—The correspondence that has appeared in your paper prompts me to ask a few questions : —Does No License mean that though the open bars are not licensed, Spirituous liquors ad. lib can be had ? Vide the report laid before Parliament last month and published in the daily papers, the amount of drink consumed in Oamaru, Invercargill, Ashburton and Clutha is greater than open license. This report I suppose is correct, in accordance with the provisions of the Liquor Act 1904. 2. Is it true that No License causes no diminuDition in crime, that taking Ashbnrton in 1902 (license) there were 309 cases of crime of all sorts while last year 1907 (No License ) they had increased to 319 'i In the said city in 1902 there were 92 cases relating to liquor while in 1907 there were 107. 3. If Ashburton is so prosperous now why has the amount of debts sued for increased from £3115 in 1902 to £4633 in 1907. 4 If the business people of Ashburton are so satisfied with No License why was the Polling at the Central Booth C urt House as follows ( 1905 ) : For Restoration .. .. .. 618 Against Restoration.. .. .. 335 Majority for restoration .. .. 283 5. Why has there been no decrease in the number of police in Clutha, Ashburton, Oamaru, and Invercargill ? There are more police in Clutha now than in the year No Licence was carried. If any temperance advocate can enlighten me on the above and prove to me that the consumption of liquor in the home, in the sly gr«g den, in the gambling-hell, in the brandy-house, in the paddocks, in the ditches, on the roadside, is preferable to the open license of well-conducted houses, well then I’ll vote slap bang for No License. —I am etc., Puzzled.