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AN UNSEEMLY DEMONSTRATION.

MR H. D. BEDFORD HECKLED.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEFEND

THE TOWN.

The report that Mr H. D. Bedford, M.A., of Dunedin, would address an open-air meeting in Masterton on Saturday nigth on the Nolicense question, and that an organised attempt would be made to prevent his receiving a hearing, was responsible, for one of the largest and most disorderly gatherings ever held in the district. Shortly after eight o'clock a lorry was drawn up in front of the office of Messrs Hollings and Pragnell, and this was mounted by 'Mr D. McGregor, junr., Mr Bridges, and Mr Bedford.

Mr McGregor, as President of the No-license Council briefly introduced Mr Bedford, who, on rising, was greeted with mingled cheers and groans. "What's the matter with Masterton?" h© asked, as he waved a copy of our local' contemporary in the air, amidst uproar. "That's'the query!"—(Cries of "Rot" and roar). ' 'That's the query put, to:. me by the Wairarapa. Daily Times." (Uproar). "What's the matter with the Wairarapa:• Daily;. Times?" ! .;"Lslioidd feet ; jfery; flattereji that I ; am called upon to diagnose the complaint ..from which Masterton is suffering." (Uproar.) "It shows that the paper has confidence in my judgment, and

a supremecontempt for its own." (Cheers andi groans.) "The Wairarapa Daily Times states that the depression in Masterton : has not been caused by No-license." ("It's a lie!" and groans). '"'Well, that's what the paper says, and it calls upon an outsider to explain what it should have explained itself." (Uproar). "I would answer by again asking, 'What's the matter with the Wairarapa Daily Times?'" ("Give ns a rest!" "Give us a speech!" and uproar;) "There's nothing wrong

with Masterton, but there's something, seriously wrong with the Wairarapa Daily Times. *' (800-hoo's suid interruption.) "For the' last years;the depression ■throughout' s lh"6 v Dominion has been emphasized by all the nevyspapers, and it{woiild.be a peculiar thing if Masterton" ..ex-: „' pected to be exempt." (Cries of "We want beer," and uproar.). "I will show that the statement that inasterton is in a * worse position than other places is without foundation." (Cheers and groans.) "The Age very pertinently draws attention to the number of empty offices and shops in Wellington." (Uproar.) "What's wrong with Wellington?" (Cries of "Nothing!''' and""Kats!")

"Palmerston North -has suffered more from depression than Maoterton." (Cries of ."No," "Yes," and uproar.) "There has been a depression in Masterton, it is true, but there have. been special causes."

.(Cries; of 'fot <Jf i' was .'spent irutlte town oii municipal works, and .there was more --or less of a- boom." ("No!" I'YeslV and uproar;) "When the money was spent the boom burst, andi people, of course, left tho town." ("Driven away by No-license," and "Eats!") "Dunedin is at present expending large loans,'and the papers are beginning .to ask what is going to happen when the money is spent.", (Uproar.) I "Then; there was the fall in the I price of wool v " (Cries of dissent. j "We want beer i" "We're going to< have 'it!'", "Go on, Beddy, old

boy!") "Since No-license was carried in Masterton ("We've lost two thousand people!"—-Laughter) ; the Government has* taken over the

Manawatu railway line, and you havehad fewer trains." . (''What's that got'to,do" with it?") "It has a great deal-' : t*^ ; do with it. , Eleven -men;-an.d "their-.lamilies; have. . been *emovect from the 'Masterton -railway " (''Under'No-license!".) "Ye'si under No-license.> : . Here's a man who says that the cause of the Government; taking over the Mana-

watu. railway was No-lioense. That's liquor logic for you!" (Laughter and uproar.) "If the late respected editor was alive, he would never have . written that sub-leader." (Cheers and uproar.) "There has been a change of management, and the paper has passed into the hands of: those who, are not in sympathy with No-license!" ("Shame!" and uproar.) "I will show you that Masterton is not as bad as it is painted." (Uproar.) "THe balance-sheet of the Wairarapa Farmers' Co-oper-

ative Association showed' -that the profits ; , ■ ,'• last year amounted, to £10,000." (Interruption.) "In the previous year the profits were only £6000?'- ( r 'iSov on!". ?'Give us

beer!" <"What' ahout Heyhoe?") "The increase of £4OOO has been produced in Masterton." (Cheers and cries of dissent.) "We got the information to-day that the gross profits of the biggest privately-owned

retail firm in. town has increased by 50 "per cent." (Cries of "Name!") "Another retailer says that his cash takings for the past three months have been 100 per cent, greater than they were for the .same three months last year." (Cries of "Name!" and groans.) "He is now importing direct, where previously his business would not warrant it." (Uproar.) "Of tMrteeen 'business men interviewed to-day, only one said that his bxisiness was not as good as it used to be, and even he admitted

that it was a.s good as before the boom." (Cries of "Who are they?" "We don't believe it!" and uproar.) "And now as to the seventeen bufinesses the Wairarapa Daily Tiinos alleges have been closed down'." ("Give it a ... rent!" and groans.") "I am going to show "how' utterly ;!>!s!eading the paper is." (Uproar.)- ..' ' ••:-. Mr , it:'.lfo-d then '' pro'-eo.'lod, amidst and interruption,

to show that msot of the busineses referred to by the Daily Times had merely changed hands, and had not closed down. As a matter of fact, he said, there were very few businesses in the town that had actually closed down. The speaker, continuing, said he /

had heard, before coming to Masterton, that the district was afflicted with an epidemic of bankruptcy. He was told that it was a dreadful place for bankruptcy. ("So it is!" and uproar.) Ho would show that

that those who said it was knew very little about what- they were talking. (Uproar). He made it a point of going to the official sources. He found that in the No-license district tin? number of bankruptcies in 1908 was 19; in 1909, 12; and in 1910, 10. (Cheers and groans, and cries of "What about this year?") ! In Masterton proper the figures i were 16, 10 and 6. (Cheers.) In J the other portions of the Wairarapa bankruptcy district, which embraced | the licensed 'area, there had been an increase in the number of bankruptcies. (Cries of dissent, and "Give us proof!") There had been a

marked decrease in the Masterton district, and an increase outside. (Applause and dissent.) "I see you don't want me to go any further in this argument," continued Mr Bedford, ,aniidst jeers and groans. After referring', to-, some-of the Causes, ■which had contributed to tho bankruptcies, the speaker, asked,' "but what benefit has-the town derived from No-lice jse ".- (Cries fof "None!" and "We want beer!'") He iiad, he said, seen a mart that day who used to spend all,, his wages on Saturday in the hotels. (Jeers and groans.) Now that man takes his wages hcsie to his wife and family. (Cheers.) Ninety per cent, of the tradesmen would say

; that they got more ready cash today than they did in the days of license.' (Cries-of dissent.) A black- . smith -.had told him that while previously the young men went into debt for the shoeing of their horses,.; now they had practically no names upon their books. (Cries of "Quite right!" "They're doing no business!" and groans.) The Tinui publican, who : had the booths at' the Masterton show, had expressed suri prise to him at the large amount of sovereigns and notes in the possession, of the young men. (Cries of "Where did they come from?"

"They didn't belong to Masterton!") This showed that the young men were not- spending their money upon alcohol. (They can't get it,", and groans.) In conclusion, Mr Bedford asserted that he had shown clearly that there was absolutely no" foundation for the pessimistic article of the Wairarapa Daily Times. (Cheers and groans.) "Three cheers for Mr Bedford!" ,colled a gentleman in the crowd. These were given lustily, amidst counter cheers, groans, and waving of and sticks. "One for the 'droppers!" called, a wag. 'Another for the lifters!" Both of these were, vigorously responded to., , • Mr D. McGregor,.<juni\, attempted to speak, but was unable to do so for the jeers of the rabble. V "Evi-' dontly, you .don't want to tions," he «aid,Vas h© resumed his seat. ,-.'•,•' . ■ •' ! '. f, '

A written question wa's put to Mr Bedford, v'.'Can you tell us how much of the £4ooo' increase' in ' profit of the W.F.G.A; was due .'to thebringing of liquor from Greytowii?" (Laughter and applause.) .Mr Bedford replied that he was not privileged to see the books' of • the.'.-r.ra, and consequently could not say. (Cheers and eroans.) At. this stage Mr E. G. Eton mounted the lorry, amidst considerable applause. He said that he had been a resident in Masterton for twenty-five years, and he had no hesitation in saying thai local option ' had been a perfect failure. (Tremendous cheering, and, .criers of "'What does Wood .say.?") -\Mr Bedford must have 'been misinfor..ned in the matter} He was satisfied] from his own experience that local option liad bean'.a. perfect f failure. .(Renewed cheeringj ' and criek of ■.?'No!.-So.l"). ■■ ' -'";,'.'';'.: ,■'■;•.■ -.['.: ■ At this stage a. gentleman qf extended proportions endeavoured to mount the vehicle, but was brushed aside. ■, Mr Bedford, amidst great excitement and uproar, said that, for every man who could be found to , say that No-license had' been a failure, he would produce two or more to show that it had been a (Cheers and groans.) The gentle-, man who had just spoken had ghen no proof that No-license was a failure. (Uproar.) He (the speaker) had adduced facts and figures to show that No-lioense was > a great success. , (Cheers and cries of dissent.) "In the event of restoration being carried, would you favour State oori* trol?'', "There's no possible hop© of restoration being carried in .lasterton," said Mr Bedford, amidst

applause and yells of dissent. He did not believe in State control, which in Russia had proved a failure. They had an experience of State control in New Zealand, in regard to Bellamy's, and this was a failure. "How do matters stand in Waihi?" asked another questioner. *' "There has been an amazing decrease in crime in that township," replied Mr Bedford. "It has been a grand success. The moral tone of the community has been immensely Uplifted. (Cheers and uproar.) The Brewer's logic made it appear that Waihi was dead, because there iit-d been a drop in Waihi shares. Tho collapse of the mine was said to be due to No-license." (Laughter and boo-hoo's.) After referring to the reduction in the number of empty houses in ) Masterton, Mr Bedford resumed his *. seat amidst a further outburst of I cheering and groaning. Mr Cameron, an anti-Chmese orator, then entertained the crowd, and, at the conclusion of a speech, in which he advocated "pure grog," he asked for a show of hands of those who favoured .restoration. A portion of the crowd held up their hands. "I declare it carried unanimously.." ■said' Mr Cameron, amidst laughter,cheers, and jeer* Thus ended one of the most excit- | ing open-air meetings held in Masterton for many a day. '

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19110320.2.20

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10192, 20 March 1911, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,849

AN UNSEEMLY DEMONSTRATION. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10192, 20 March 1911, Page 5

AN UNSEEMLY DEMONSTRATION. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10192, 20 March 1911, Page 5

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