THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7994, 4 December 1905, Page 2

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

MR PAUL AT THE THEATRE ROYAL. Mr James Paul addressed n fair audience at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, the Mayor presiding. The proceedings were commenced by Mr.J. McLean singing "Don't forget to leave the top line as it Stands," Ihe accompaniment being supplied by an orchestra led by Mr G. Garry, composer of the song. In introducing the speaker Mr Cock said he would bo prepared to vote for prohibition on colonial option lines, but he was opposed to local option. He saw no fairness in prohibiting a man from getting drink hern if he were able io obtain as much as he liked in Waitara or Inglcwooil.. Mr Paul, before opening his address, introduced Captain Andrews, of fc._ ric.a, who wiis anxious to reply to statements made by American nobcensc orators.

Mr Pa j 1 commenced by stating that he had ofte* faced a New Plymouth audience, but he had never before appeared ia the role of a temperance lecturer. Unfortunately for his side. Mr W. W. Collins, who had done such good service here a few years ago, was precluded by his other engagements from visiting New Plymouth now, so he (Mr Paul) an amateur, had decided to place the views of his side before the people. Were it. not that he had the utmost confidence in the strength of his case, and that he knew that he had the good opinion of a large section of the people, he would not have taken up this attitude. Many people he said, were of opinion that he.was actuated by selfish motives, and ought to keep quiet; but when it. was threatened to confiscate his properly and that of all vendors and manufacturers of intoxicating liquor, lie claimed the right to oppose the scheme and to refute the slanders thrown out by the other side. This right was not denied to even the meanest thief in tho land. Professional prohibition orators had been as plentiful here lately as slugs after a shower of rain, and included Ministers of the Gospel, who were now endeavouring to spread the doctrine of prohibi.ion. Mr Paul then pointed out that no-license would not stop the consumption but merely prevent the sale of liquor in any electorate which " carried prohibition." It was an uneven law that -spelt ruin to local people and fattened licensees in the nearest elect orate; it prevfn'i'd the poor man from obtaining his gla s of he r but allowed (he rich ivan to so -lc lis cellars a< usua'. It was class-legislation. Wh'n no license ruled the colony it would mean no liquor couhl Illegally maiiufaelircd or sold at all, except for mcdicina' pur[oscs. He considered Clause !), providing for " no-license, no l ; qurr," ought to have been hailed with delight by the Prohibition party, but. the Prohibitionists, wanted to be able to got liquor themselves for home con u up-

tinn. Prohibition Was a colonial propaganda propounded and conducted ns & semuroligions money-making scheme, frightening timid .women and tprrorif> ing public- rii'n and Ministers of the Gospel into the no-lii'onsc ranks. Tlii.s r.uiip was char wterisetl by vimlictivcness and spleen never previously equalled in Now Zca'and. Mr Paul claimed to haTC e'osely studied this question from all points of view. If lie coiM belief'.' 11l it no-license iroulil be in. the interest of the'colony and promotje tcmper.incc and niorylijy -be would'throw in his lot with prsrtv, !mt he was uiuble to come to ill i! conclusion and he re-raiivnd d hihearers to " stick to the dcii v ,,,, know rather than submit to the devil yon don't know." Prohibition retarded the temperance cause. This was shown by the.huge increase in the •■on-nm]i-ti'-n of jiijiif.r since the eommi ■neement ■'f tli" Proliih't'-irt;l'.'iuipiign. 'farious people sn;i|.or;fd prohibition for various rr.is.iiis. iSonu' because there were too fe-.T pnblie. houses, and si .mo because (here were too runny; othersbeeause they resented, the liquor monopoly; many for the s iku of " our boys," and a hrgo section beemise of spile ag.iinst 3-me publican or lircwer. Hceonsidered IhaL the voting-paper should be so drawn that districts eould, if (her so desired, Tote for mi increase of licenses. He w.is satisfied tint the rising generation was safe uijde;' the open bar system with police supervision Ihnn noheense,.for there would be sly-grog-shops, dens of iniquity uncontrolled. Soum publicans were threatened wilii a 110-lieense' vote for refusing to »orve a mm on Sunday, or for refusing to lend a man a shilling l He would not defend drunkenness, any more than he would befriend the miser or the religious hypocrite, but lie look exception to the exagcrated account of drunkenness ill New Zealand, which was one of Ihe most sober countries in the world. Xew Plymouth was specially sober, for in Ihe festivities of the past week not one "drunk" hstLbeen arrested. It was m the interest of every true man and woman to promote temperance and so'.r.elv, but these eouni no! be obtained i»r Act of J'arii.imeut. " J.'rohibilion :icTer ins Cecil a success, anil n.'Ter will be," asserted Mr Paul. American statistics proved an increase

of drinking in no-license areas, and the experience of this colony was (lie same. Temperance would follow education, moral suasion and religion—not compulsion. For instance the consumption of liquor in New Zealand now, after 12 j years of partial Prohibition was higher I flu'i cm. The same applied f to convictions-for drunkenness. Pro- „ hiliition w* i repugnant to all British . ideas of freedom and fair 'play. Many j- prohibition advocates were not sincere, , but enjoyed their liijuor on the quiet. As a rule whole-hearted prohibitionists wore pale-faced anil not altogether f robust. What would Jielson have , dime at Trafalgar, or Wellington at I Waterloo, with a navy and army of . such men ? Where could they find a t team of prohibitionists to obtain the same success ns the Xcw Zealand footballers ? (Mr Ahier: I'll make one). Arnidsi laughter. Mr Paul acknow- ; ledged tint Mr Aider would be a good representative. Prohibition was ail encroachment on person il and individit'il liberty, comparable only to the terrors of ihc iuipiisilion and the fires ol martyrdom. >,'o man had the right to tell another what he should eat or drink. Tliey all pitied the man who was so weak-minded (hat lie had to take out a prohibition order to maintain bis self-respect, bill what of a whole community that voluntarily took out such an order for three voirs? ft W'as no credit to a man to keip sober when there- w as no chance to gel drunk. Prohibition bad proved a failure in Scotland in the ninih century, and in America recently it was formed to be a farce, a delusion, and a snare. Prohibition orators were not justified in 1 slandering brewers ami publicans who 1 were lawfully engaged in honest call- 1 i»g 7 just as honest as lecturing for the I no-licensa party. There was less hypo- ! erisy about, it, too. He claimed to be ' as staunch a temperance advocate anil

well-wisher us ( lu* mnsl rabid prohibitionist, but his ideas of reform were diflerenl. Mr Paul (hen claimed that if no-licens,> vere carriLK.l compensation should Ik* to those whose living was thus taken away. In conclusion. Mr Paul .said he had no intention of coercing people, but would ask them to think the (juestiun over calmly and then v<>!«< : t s conscience directed. He resumed his seat amid applause. Captain Andrew;; then took the platform, and treated his hearers to some reticulars of his connection with the *- i>il ar in America, A<*. Captain Andrews said th:it no-license was [granted wiilun a mile of any American I'niviM'.-it r. Aflrr some h:i;| been put ■ ind sHtisKictoriiy answered, votes of thanks to l»anl, Captain Andrews, and the chair concluded I he meeting.