MR ETON'S STATEMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10192, 20 March 1911, Page 4

MR ETON'S STATEMENT.

{To The Editor.'] Sir,—l and many % others were sorprised that a gentleman* of Mr Etoa'a ability shoulS get up at Mr meeting last' evening, and make tha bald statement that in his opinion Nolicense had been arc utter failure- m Masterton, without attempting to give any facts to- uphold! his cen>tention. It was stated prior to tßw* last election that somewhere about a thousand pounds a week, was spent over the bars in Masterton. Whether that was correct .or not I neither know nor care, but no sane man can contend that anything approaching the sameamount is spent on liquor under NoLicense. Therefore, it is a fair con*tention that the difference is now being spent on necessaries and harmless luxuries, and that every tradesman must be better off under No-License. I should have .thought ijiaj; MriEton's ' long connection with Hospital and' Charitable ..Aid, Boards, ~ ha-ve ■ madetfiim nesitate before making such' a sweeping statement that No-License was an utter failure in Mastertbn. At any rate I am convinced 'that it will take considerably more proof than MiEton's bald statement to convince the people of Masterton to go back to the old order of things. Surely it is a poor •* town otidistrict whicn-hastpowji that it>is[;dopemdent}f the•-*.-.site of ;.'< intonating.. liquors t Thanking you for..space; etc., I >am, etc., ' ..••' : ;';." ';" "• '.'.:'•■" ; .■■ :•■• ...•••.•.-'•.•

;.•::- ; ;■ ■;.■■■■■■* •■• *o)elta." * Masterton, March 19, -1911 V ; ~