No-License Rally.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4487, 11 November 1909, Page 2

No-License Rally.

A WAIHI TESTIMONY,

Interesting to note that at a recent Nolicense rally at Christchuroh the Rev. W* White, of Waihi, dealng with the result of no-license in the Ohinemuri district said that Waihi was a town of between 6000 and 7000 inhabitants, more than three-fifths of whom on four occasions voted for no-license. The idea that tbs decision was made upon a “catch vote’* to make the publicans supply “threepeuny” beers, was utterly erroneous. The feeling in Ohinemuri to-day was strongly in favour of no license, and men, women aud children had benefited tremendously through it. Miners, in the day of license, used to go to the public-houses and gamble away their wages. That was put a stop to now. Homes that had been made miserable through drunken husbands and fathers were now peacable and happy. From a business point of. view uo -license had also benefited Waihi. In twelve months there had been only tbres convictions for drunkenness in Waihi, and it was believed that in each of those cases the men had got drunk outside fcfia electorate. He had to confess that he had been told the “locker-system” was in vogue in the town, but it was for the Government to deal with such illegalities, if they existed. Whether there was a “locker system” or not. there was uo v I doubt that not one-twentieth of the I driuking went on in the town uow than I there was before no-license was carried.