NO-LICENSE IN OAMARU.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9140, 16 July 1908, Page 6

NO-LICENSE IN OAMARU.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— Having recently published in I the columns of your paper a lengthy i article written by a contributor wno I conceals his identity behind the ] nom de plume of "A Recent Visi! tor," with reference to the success or otherwise of No-License in Oamaru, you will no doubt, in the spirit of fairness which you always display, just as readily publish the following manifesto signed by 100 Oamaru citizens of reoute, Your readers will then be able to judge for themselves which testimony reveals the true position.—l am, etc., JABEZ BRIDGES, No-License Advocate. Rev. Thomas Stinson, The Manse, Timaru. Dear Sir, —I beg to acknowledge receipt ot your letter of the sth instant, in which you say that statements have been published in Timaru to the effect that No-License has hindered tne progress of Oamaru, and that the town is in a bad way financially because of the carrying of NoLicense, and you ask if I would send you answers to certain questions bearing on the subject. I mujt say at once that both statements are contrary to fact, and as they are calculated to have an injurious effect upon the town I consider it my duty to reply to your question in order that the true position may be understood and the town's good name protected.

While there has been no "boom" m Oamaru, it cannot be questioned that the town during the last few years has made very substantial progress and there is at the present time every indication of an increased measure of prosperity being realise: 1 . and of continued progress being made along sound lines. Your first question is: "How has the value of property in Oamaru been affected by No-License? Has it been necessary to increase the rates?" I have to say that NoLicense came into operation on Ist July, 1906. The annual rateable value of town properties as appearing on the valuation list of the borough was then £38,202, while the present value is £40,533, an increase of £2,331 in the annual rental value (not the capital value). While it would be impossible to enumerate all the contributory causes at the back of this satisfactory condition of things, or to point out just what effect No-License had in connection with the advance made, it is a well • recognised fact that No-License has at least not hindered the progress of the town as indicated by- the figures just given. There is also no doubt that the prosperity enjoyed in recent years has to a great extent been brought about by the cutting up of large estates contiguous to the borough jand the closer settlement of tti9 whole district. An additional factor has been the good prices obtained for our products. It has nut been necessary to increase the borough rates. On the contrary, the Council while not curtailing its ordinary expenditure Cor the year, has been enabled to reduce the rates

by 3d in the £ as from Ist April last. The reduction was made possible owing to increased revenue from rates, gas, water supplies, rents, etc. The Fecond question is: "Do you

think business generally has sufferred?" No. Business generally has not suffered. It is true that the

severe drought of the season 1906-7, from which North Otago suffered probably mere than any other district in the Dominion, considerably affected the volume of trade, and that retail business to some extent was also affected by the International Exhibition at Christchurch, but owing to a more favouruable season having been experienced, business in all its branches is again very good. The speedy recovery which has taken place from the effects of the drought speaks volumes for the soundness of business generally. Your third question is: "What has been the effect of the new order of things on the building trade? Has there been any noticeable falling off in the number of houses erected?"— J cannot say what effect No-License has had on the building trade, but it is well known that for some years the building trade has been very active, and of late it has been found impossible to supply the- demand for carpenters locally, and one firm of contractors informed me that they have been obliged to advertise in Dunedin for men, in order to keep pace with their work. The borough books show that more new houses have been erected during the last twelve months than during any other recent year.

Your fourth question is "How has No-License affected crime. Kindly give figures if they are available."— The Court records show convictions for the eighteen months preceding NoLicense, and the ike period under NoLicense as follows, viz:—Eighteen months ending December 30th, 1906, drunkenness, 285; other offences, 155; total, 440. Eighteen months ending December 31at, 1907, drunkenness, 34; other offences, 108; total, 142. In respect to the 34 cases of drunkenness, I am informed on reliable authority that a large pro* portion of these were persons who arrived in an intoxicated f ondition by railway trains, while the ten convictions for offensive behaviour on railway trains were the result of attending a picnic at Timaru.. Question 5: "Do you notice any change in the moral tone of your town since the closing of the open bar?" —Apart from arrivals by train, there is practically no drunkenness, and order in the public street. l ! is very much improved. In saying this, I do not wish it to be understood that public order was not good previous to the operation of No-License. Oamaru has always been law-abiding, but nevertheless with drunkenness reduced to a minimum there is a very noticeable improvement. Order at large public gatherings such as the Agricultural Show, Caledonian Gainea, etc., u a distinctive feature of the assembl.es, and among the thousands of p.opL- present, it is a rare thing to see a drunken man. — Faithfully jours, ROBE Iff MILLIGAN, Mayor. Oamaru, Mt:y 11th. In order that the true condition of affairs in Oamaru under No-License may be authoritatively established •we, the undersigned, hereby affirm itaa our belief that the Mayor's answers to the Rev. T. Stinson's

questions are a fair statement of the position, as it is in Oamaru at the present time. (Signed), Geo. Jones, M.L.C., proprietor "Oamarul Mail"; Goo. Glen, editor "North Otago Times"; Alexander Douglas, M.A., M.D., Medical Practitioner; Jas. i Whitton, M.D., P.RC.S., Madical 'Practitioner; Kenneth M'Adam, 1M.8., M.R.C.S., Medical PractiI tioher and Borough Councillor; Albert |l. Garland, L.R.C.P. (Edin.), I M.R.C.S., Medical Practitioner; IR. W. Monson, President Chamber of Commerce; Chas. W. Cooke, secretary Chamber of Commerce and , Deputy-Official Assignee; W. H. Coltrel, chairman N.O. Benevolent Trustees, Stationer; Walter Gibb, secretary N.U. Benevolent Society and secretary Oamaru Hospital; W. H. Frith, Borough Councillor; 'G. Snadden, Tailor and Borough I Councillor: R. J. Keys, Pastrycook and Borough Councillor; Jas. Mitchell, Journalist and Borough Councillor; R. Mahan, Photographer and Borough Councillor, also Major 3rd Battalion 0.R.V.; W. 11. Rose, J.P., Merchant; D. H. Jennings, Dentist, Borough Councillor; D. Patterson, manager Oamaru Woollen Factory; J. B. Taylor, Chairman of Directors North Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association; John Mainland, Chairman Hospital Trustees, Superintendent Fire Brigade, Builder, etc; Robert Brown, Draper, Thames Street; R. K. Ireland, Flourmiller; J. Thorpe, Fourmiller; T. M. Cunninghame, Town Clerk; A. G. Creagh, Crown Prosecutor; Hebert Newton, Barrister; V. M. Greig (Miss), Acting Lady Principal Girls' High School; F. Milner, Rector Waitaki High School; Jas. Lindsay, Headmaster North School; Fredk. S. Aldrsd. Headmaster South School; E. T. Earl, Headmaster Middle School; Wm. Cron, First Assistant South School; R. J. Porter, Rev., St. Paul's Presbyterian Church; Wm. Wright, Rev., Columba Presbyterian Church; Thos. M. Griffin, Rev., Methodist Minister; F. G. Buckingham, Rev., Minister Baptist Church; T. H. Mathieson, Evangelist, Church of Christ; W. H. Home, Adjutant Salvation Army; Jas. M'Farlane, Property Owner; Robert Blair, Property Owner; Jas. Rosie, Builder; Alfred Smith, Builder; John Allan, ; Builder; Robert Lindsay, Builder; ' Harry Winsley, Builder; J. H. : Milligan and Co., Merchant Tailors; Hugh D. Stevenson, Merchant Tailor; H. Grenfell, Clothier; G. H. Ferens, Clothier; Andrew Fraser, Stationer; J. R. Sewell, Chemist, etc.; David ; Dunn, Butcher; J. D. Bissett, Butcher; Alex Russell, • Butcher; J. M. Forrester, Architect; W. J. Beswick, Architect; J. R. Smith, Grocer; W. Smyth, Grocer and Baker; Alex. Brown, Grocer; A. Meldrum, Baker; J. H. Irvine, ; Baker; M. Strachan, Confectioner; i M. A. Marshall (Mrs), Confectioner; Robson and Sons, Fruiterers; Jno. : Gikon, Fruiterer; W. G. Cunningham, Fruiterer; T. Gallagher, Seedsman; Alexander Riach, Dairy Factory Manager; John Gilchrist, Dairyman; A. W. Woodward, Commission ! Agent; H. Brown, Cycle Manufac- ! turer; W. H. Isdale, Cycle Importer; A. J. McKenzie, Cycle Importer; S. J. Davys, Dentist; John Moore, ; Furniture Warehouse; J.R.Robins, Furniture Warehouse; G. L, Grenfell, i Picture Dealer; Alex. Clark, Produce Merchant; J. H. Cunningham, Printer; G. A. Mitchell, Painter; W. H. i Kear, Painter and Paperhanger; John . Scoon, Plumber; D. Brady, Tobaccoi nist; Abert Barsdell, Hairdresser : and Tobacconist; W. H. Brown, Journalist; P. G. Marshall, Jeweller, [ William Strachan, Watchmaker; ; Geo. W. Sherwin, Watchmaker; T, White, Awamoa, Egg Dealer; J. D. ; Familton, Auctioneer and Land i Agent; W. H. Steenson, Commission i Agent; Samuel Crawshaw, late ■ Borough Engineer; H. Mathias, Inspector of Nuisances; W. A. Dimick, Sailmaker, etc.; W. Grave, Sailmaker, etc.; W. S.Ward, General ; Storekeeper; Jas. Ogilvie, Iion- ; monger; Lunar Dewar, Ironmonger; 1 Adam L. Adamson, Company Manager; W. H. Hiett, Fancy Goods Depot.