NO-LICENSE ANNIVERSARY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10029, 1 July 1910, Page 5

NO-LICENSE ANNIVERSARY.

MEETING AT THE TOWN HALL. RESULTS OF A YEAR'S NOLICENSE. The first anniversary of NoLicense in the Masterton district vas made the subject of a temperance demonstration at the Town Hall last evening. There was only a very moderate attendance'scattered thinly through the hall, and the platform was occupied by about a dozen representatives leaders cf temperance reform, including the Rev. F. s lsitt, the Rev. Arthur Dewdney, Chairman of the Alliance Executive, McDermott, Secretary of the Auckland Alliance, Rev. R. W % Jackson, Southbridge, Canterbury, Mr D. McGregor, junr., Rev. A. Hodge, and Messrs Harris Bridgeu, J. McGregor, J. Prentice, A. Snowball and Pragnell. The chair was occupied by the • Mayor, Mr J. M. Coradine, whu said he would content himself by briefly extending a very hearty welcome to the gentlemen who were to speak on; behalf of the movement. He saw* no particular tendency on the part of the leaders to carry on their work on the same lines as the military—with roise and smoke. The one wished to save and the other to destroy, and he hoped the gentlemen concerned would not abate "one whit of their work." The sense of fair play in Masterton prevailed to a very largefextent, and he therefore knew the speakers would get a good hearing.

Mr J. Bridges, organiser lor the Party in the Mastertori district, read apologies from the Revs. Porter, Macdonald, and Watsor, and Mr W. fl. Hawkins, of Pahiatua. He thought that meeting was the thinnest they had struck for some time, but that, would not discourage them. He read the following statement, which, he said, was the result of his interviews with 126 retailer* of Masttrton, 112 of whom had replied, while 14 had refused to reply:— .: Q. "What effect has No-License had on your business? A. Eighty-two favourable, 16" indefinite, of these 13 represented either new businesses or under new managementj 14 unfavourable. Q. Do you think business generally has suffered as a result of NoLicense? A. Seventy-six favourable, 17 unfavourable, 15 indefinite,. 4 gave no reply. Q. What effect has No-License had on the public order and general moral tone? : " A. One hundred and fivefavoui-. able, 6 indefinite, 1 unfavourable. Q. Would it in your -opinion be to the best interests of the town to have Licenses restored? A. Eighty-seven favourable, 12 unfavourable, 5 indefinite, 8 eave no reply. Q. Would cense as the solution of the liquor problem? A. Seventy-two favourable, 34 unfavourable, of which 17 recommended tutal prohibition, 3 indefinite, 3 gave no reply. The official figures for the Masterton Court for the year ending June 30th,, 1909, and June 30th, 1910, respectively were:—Convictions for drunkenness in 1909, 287, of which six were females; 1910, 41, including one woman, of these 2fi came into town drunk by rail, coach, or road; vagrancy: 1909,25; 1910, 2; obscene language: 1909, 21; 1910, 2; theft: 1909, 44; 191",' 8; indecent exposure: 1909, 3; 1910, nil; malicious injury to property: 1909, 5; 1910, 1; obstructing and resisting police: 1909, 12;, 1910, 2; total:

1909, 397; 1910, 54. In reading his annual report, Mr Bridges referred to the prediction that the population would dwindle away as the result of No-License. The church and school returns showed that there had been an increase financially and otherwise. In the hospital returns there •■ had been less cases treated in 1910, the figures being— Under license 61 cases; under nolicense 36. v '~ v '.

Rev. R. W. Jackson, Canterbury, said that after what Maaterton people had achieved they should look upon their town as "the glory of the earth." (Laughter). He was proud to call them all distinguished men and distinguished women, for they had accomplished a distinguished mission. In bis opinion, the • statement-'made by Mr Bridges regardirg his interviews with shopkeepers and t.hs merchants, was proof ! that No-License must be beneficial to a community. As a clergyman he aaid if th 3 Church could not exist, aa had been alleged, without the liquor traffic, then let it cease to exist. Ho would rather take to the spade and the shovel than belong to a Church which could not do without the liquor traffic. (Cheers). The Church, profiting by the experience of Masterton, was not going to stop, but was going on and on to destroy the causes of poverty, disease and drunkenness. The liquor seller'was ' the only person he could not hon- • estly pray for. The brewer, the pub ' lican and the distiller wera past ' praying for. (Laughter). He was 51 not concerned with "the golden j Bhore" and "the golden crown," and "the new JerusaUm." but he was • 1 concerned with maki.ig the homes 1 of the people hers below "beauti-

ful, sweet, and prosperous like the world above." (Laughter and applause). The Kev. F. Isitt. who was well received, said he was not quite so sure about their being glad to hear the Rev. F. Isitt, as he had lately gone wool-gathering. (Laughter). He hoped it was only a kind of temporary insanity, however, and that it would not last. (Laughter). Seriously, speaking, however, he wished to pay a iutl3 encouragingly to Masterton about the trouble they were to have ahead. He did not think it was going to be much. It hadi been said that the condition of things in Masterton was dreadful. "Did you ever know a Mo-License district," be asked, "m which it wasn't?" (Laughter). Continuing, he said more lies bad bten told about Glutha than he could count. He had invited 50 persons to go with him to Clutha and see for themselves, but not one of them had gone. He so many lies about Masterton that he thought the very houses were tottering because there was no liquor being sold. "There was'surely no one in Masterton who would not challenge those lies. There might have been a little more sly grog selling,but when they had license would they say that there was ever a publican in Masterton who would refuse to serve a man who wasj'drunk, or a licensed dealer who, did not do sly grog selling when he got the.chance. (Hear hear.) Things had £} been changed of-late, and it was for the benefit of Masterton that- they had been changed. "You know," he added, with a dramatic wave of the hand, "that it is so; you know it has benefited Masterton, and thank God for it." (Cheers).

Continuing, Mr Isitt said the temperance movement was the grandest of the century, and when every Church stocd side by side in their great campaign then they vwuld win, but he was afraid. some •of them were going to wait and see them win without taking their fair share of the work. (Hear, hear.) Masterton had achieved a |?reat good work, but they' wanted to see other districts follow, suit. ..They., were not going to let seller flourish in the Dominion,'on the principle that they did not believe in. letting, a thief [go>on th'eving, and h9.told them plainlyffihat'what'the' party had accomplished in Masterton they hoped soon tc accomplish in -the whole of the Dominion. „ The Rev. Arthur Dewdney said they were there that night to rejoice that Masterton had been free for twelve months from that curse which dragged down men and women; The closing of the open bar in the Masterton district had decreased crime to such an extent that ; the people of Masterton ought to they had accomplished v so much.*. When they had a little more expert- , ence of>/J », -License in Masterton the people would be* surprised that there was a time when foe publichouse was essential, well-be-ing. Statistics from Qamaru showed that No-License bad improved_tbe takings of the business men, many of whom, had not even voted for No-License. The business men now; saw the benefit they were reaping,and Nc-License gwas in Oamairujo stay. (Cheers). No-License certainly was not a perfect" success. They had an imperfect liW. In lovercargill they voted NO'License and yet they Jet the brewer go^onjnaking as much beer as he liked fi Mr Bridges: So we havehereMS Mr Dewdney: Well, then yon are as stupid here as they are down there. (Laughter). Well, I mean you areas because you can't help it." But they were going to stop the orewer also, and Sir Jopejih Ward had promised them legation on the subject. (Hear, hear). They meani that the man who supplied the public-lhouse and the home should go as well as the seller. He wished to contradict the rumours that had been circulated about a split in the Temperance party. He said authoritatively thai the No-ilcense party was never sc united as it was today, and there was Jio assembly in the Dominior that could have shown keener intel s lectuality, ability and debating ski! 1 than had been shown by the j-ecen 3 conference in Wellington—a confer ! I ence ttoat was all unity and deter

minatipri. The party was intensely enthusiastic in its mission, arid by the grace of God would always! keep united. They had at their conference laid down their plans of action, and that platformwas going to be pushed along to success. (Cheers). With one heart they were going to fight. They were not in this cause as a party, but in the name of God to save their brothers from destruction, arid they were not going to allow any selfish or individual opinions to deflect them from the great end they had in view. They knew that, they were going to get what they werß after, and "we are going to-win—unless , God dies.'' .Cheers). In conclusion > he said, "Don't you be satisfied in ! Masterton because you have won.; i You hnva got to keep on'voting as - though you had not won in order that your vole may hearten up the people ; everywhere,- and because as'webes iiuve you are going to have a "vote on » the Dominion principle, and to clear d out root and branch the, liquor traffic s and its frujt and leave our colony s fresh and sweet and tree from its - curse." (Applause),

Mr McDermott, secretary of the Auckland Alliance, also spoke, lie said that on former occasions when he had come to Masterton be had never entered the town without seeing a drunken man. That day he,was in the town and could see nothing of the kind. He congratulated Masterton upon setting such Van cxsinple. The people had shown wisdom by their action, and he hoped in Aackland at the next poll the people would follow Masterton's example. (Cheers; ' Mr James McGregor, in moving a vote of thanks to the speak .-is, regretted the small audience, He thought Masterton people who had preferred the fireside had lost a treat in not hearing the speakers. The enormous advantage to young rnen In Masterton from No-License vaa a thing that a great many speakers forgot to mention, and he wiahod'fcoemphasise the point. As the cau«e had been removed, they -w'er-o not now in Masterton rearing up a race of young drunkards to' be the future business men , and workers . aud the heads of families, but a race of sober men who would be respected in the . community! ".' The manner in which the Maoris had been benefited by the removal of 'the liquor traffic was also a source .of; I great gratification. (Cheers). : Mr A. Snowball seconded the moton, which was carried by acclamation. On of Mr D..McGregor junr., ihe usual coroplimeot to the chair terminated the meeting a few minutes after 10 p.m.