THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1909. NO-LICENSE!

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9531, 1 July 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDA Y, JULY 1, 1909. NO-LICENSE!

To-day will see the commencement of rhe Masterton electorate under NoHcenae, and everyone must hope that the drastic step accomplished by the voters in November last will prove successful, for a movement that costs many people a great deal, and involves some of one's fellow men and women in a condition of ruin, certainly requires a substantial mea-j sure of success to justify it. While '[ the no-license Vote is of a purely local character, that is to say, while the local option poll is in vogue the e'xtent to which districts, where Noli cense has been carried, are affected depends very considerably upon the actual location of the district. The chief beuefits claimed for No-license by the Prohibition party are that public morality is improved by the absence of licenses to" sell intoxicating liquors, and that commercially—and the commercial aspect of the question is very strongly insisted upon—towns in No-license districts are greatly benefited. So far as Masterton is concerned it must be admitted that trade generally has been dull for some time past, whi)e there has been £ great deal more

unemployment than we care to see; and thus we hear it said that "Prohibition has come at a bad time." On the other hand, assuming that the declarations of the Prohibition party in reference to the commercial benefits of No-license are only moderately accurate, it may be said that Nolicense has come into force at a very good time indeed. For our own part we must confess that we look forward with a great degree of interest, to witnessing the effect of No-license during the next three years. As vie have said we trust that the step i taken will ; prove a success—our I wishes are always for the true welfare ofjMasterton from every point Of view. In a sense it may be said that a licensed traffic has now been superseded by an unlicensed traffic, and, no doubt, despite the carrying of No-license a very large quantity of liquor is still going to come into the district, but we hope that the law will be rigidly observed, and thqt Masterton under No-license will be conspicuous by thejabsence of discreditable cases usually connected with an illicit traffic.