NO-LICENSE IN ASHBURTON

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 150, 4 October 1910, Page 5

NO-LICENSE IN ASHBURTON

A 'MAGISTRATE'S REJIARKS.By Telegraph,.—Press Association. AsMmrton, Last Night. About a month ago M'r. V. G. Da}', Stipendiary Magistrate, stated at Timaru that there were probably more temptations in a prohibition district than in a licensed district, and that his experience had led him to ibelieve them was liquor in practically every house in the no-license district, and a dipsomaniac would have many opportunities tor secret drinking. In view of an indignation meeting which will be held, in Ashburton to-night, a Guardian representative interviewed Mr. Day, who stated that he had been askfed to attend the meeting, but, being a magistrate, could not accede to the request. The case .he had before him at Timaru was an extreme one, and experience' gained at Ashburton in his position as magistrate respecting liquor generally prompted him to conscientiously make the remarks. The opinion expressed was directed only to the case he had before him an. 1 was" never intended as a reflection of no-license in any district Unfortunately tho woman in question is a dipsomaniac, and believed "she would look for liquor in 'heaven." It was absurd for anyone to'sav that there was not a great deal of drinking in Ashburton. In support of this he could say that 3000 notices of delivery of liquor to Ashburton residents had passed through the hands of the clerk of the Court during tlie past six months, independently of the quantities that were brought in other ways.

"It is not for me," said Mr. Day, "to advance an opinion regarding the working of no-license in Ashburton' or another similarly restricted arfa; but I would obtain opinions of medical men and others wUo are in a position to give unquestionable evidence (hearing on the problem. If the no-license party think tha,:t I made the remarks objected to for general application, it is perfectly at liberty to do so, and if the cap fits the no-license party it can wear it. The Timaru footballers, wiho were in Ash(burton some "little time I rack, Ifreely] stated they had bought a number of bottles of whisky from sly-grog sellers, and when a person witnesses such liquor being consumed he must believe the evidence of hie own eyes."

INDIGNATION MEETING,

Ashburton, tfflst Night. An indignation meeting convened bythe No-Licenße League was held to-night to protest against the statements made' m TiaKum by M*. V. G. Day, Magistral. Tllie meeting was largely attended, aod was addressed by Mr. Poole, M.P., and the Rev. W. J. William®, of Oanuwu. The following resolution was •anted unanimously: "That this meeting of electors and adult, residents of Ashbarto* dwtmt emphatically dewee tfbe utoietaemt m«fe by Mr. Y. G. Day, S&peftdiary Magis*«te, so faff ae sueh BtwteHetntß apply *o this electorate, that (1) tkepe ane probably more i«npt»ifcioofl in protribitio" districts than in liewwwl and (2) that there a liquor in pjaetiaally every house is noKweee district#, The meeting considers th«»e statements are utterly misleading aad fellaciotm so far as Ashburton is •o«eera«cl, wkew total abstinence from tifkcobmaMKQ ficpwr* lately prevails, su*l wbeaa, with the abolition of th* opes bajc, facilities for obtaining alwhijic beverages, have been reduced.to an exfcwt twirdJy ooaßwrable to people living i£ lfeeaaed arosLs."