NO-LICENSE IN MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10276, 1 July 1911, Page 5

NO-LICENSE IN MASTERTON.

REPORT BY MR JABEZ BRIDGES. The following report by Mr Jabez Bridges, organiser for the No-License party, was read at the No-Licenjse meeting in Masterton last evening:—

I deeply appreciate the privilege I have this evening of presenting to you the second annual report on No-IHi-oense in the Mastertoh electorate. Two years ago to-night the shutters went up on the licensed bar, never to be taken down any more for ever. The licensed liquor bar has gone, and we maintain to-night, as we did over two years ago, that when they went, they went for good. Some people (quite a number in face) said that the going would not be for good, but rather the reverse, and after two years' experience we are more convinced than ever that we were right and that they were wrong. But to make an assertion is one thing, and to prove it is, perhaps, another. For instance, on a recent Saturday night, in the presence of one of the biggest open-air gatherings our town has seen for years, one of our respected citizens, Mr Eton, chemist, said, "Local Option, has been a perfect failure." He repeated the statement three times; but he offered no proof in support of his assertion, and to have done so might have proved difficult. However, we assert that the bars were closed for good, and I am here to-night to offer irrefutable facts in support of that assertion. But, before passing on to the detail of my report T will reply to an enquiry made by Mr J. J. Kelliher in yesterday's "Daily Times." (The letter, as published in Friday's Age, was here read.) I am delighted with the opportunity I have of entering my protest against such an insult being offered to our business men, as that contained in Mr Kelliher's question, and which infers that the signed statements of the business men of this community are not worthy of credence. | Surely this only reveals Mr Kelliher's ' own want of moral rectitude ; nothing else could have suggested such a course as that he proposes, and which should be treated with the contempt it merits. j _ Before entering upon my investigation here, I met several of the Cartor- ! ton storekeepers in my office, and after discussing with them the possibility !of obtaining information from bu-s'i-. ness people here as to the effects of No-License, it was resolved by those present to secure as many signatures as possible to the request recently published in the Age, which was signed by 35 storekeepers, two doctors, and two ministers of religion of Carterton. In reply to this request we have received over 60 signed replies from the storekeepers here, which will be duly placed in the hands of each of the Carterton gentlemen who made the request. Wa have also received quite a large number from others, whose names, for personal reasons, were not to be made public, so that we are now in a position to give an expression of opinion from practically the whole of the shopkeepers of Masterton, also six doctors, and four ministers, as to the result of No-License. Now, to put first things first, I will commence by showing something of the moral effects of this- reform, and will quote soni9 statistics in support of the moral improvement. It is patent to everybody that our tov, n is practically free from those objectionable features which were str apparent two y -;--s ago. ; and' which gave us rather ':.n unenviable reputation. Drunkenness has decreased so much that we now rarely ree a person under the influence of liquor, while the sight of a lot of lounging spongers watching for a stray chance to get a drink is quite gone! Bad language is now conspicuous'by its absence, while many other forms of. objectionable conduct which were so offensive to most persons have totally disappeared. In support of these assertions I will here quote our Magistrate's Court returns. " ' ; o ' o , CO CO ' ■C fl I © . <D 0)' | 2 .2' .S> gnl »& Hfc § c .{S a g si ~ ~. ■ . hIP fep $P Convictions-for

Drunkenness 287 41 36 Vagrancy 25 2 1 Obscene Language 21 2 5 Theft 44 8 6 Indecent Exposure 3 0 0 Malicious injury to property 5 11 Obstructing or resisting Police _ 12 2 0 Note.—With regard to the figures for drunkenness under No-License, it was proved in Court that 26 of the arrested persons were drunk when they arrived' in town from adjoining electorates. The Magistrate's Court returns show that whereas, in 1908 there were 119 sittings of the criminal Court in Masterton for the first half vear, there wer«? in 1911 only 39, a reduction of 80. It may b..> said here, as I have often heard it said" elsewhere, that the Court returns as to convictions • for drunkenness do not give any reliable evidence of the reduction in the consumption of liquor, and it is commonly stated that there is as much liquor consumed in Masterton now as ever there was. . Liquor goes into the homes and the .women and children are learningtb drink and the men simply guzzle it like hogs (liquor language and liquor facts.) We cannot get into every home and there observe what is done, but when we see statements published in our papers such as the following: "There ar3 only two places in the town where you cannot get liquor," then it is time to enter a protest and adduce what evidence we can to disprove such statements. With this object in view, I interviewed all our resident doctors, believing them to be as competent to express an opinion on the subject as anybody. I will now read the statements which each gave me for publication : DR. W. H. HOSKING.-In answer to your enquiry as to the alleged increase of private drinking in the homes of the people of Masterton. I am not so well able to _ authortitatively answer this as I should have been some years ago, as I am not now so much in touch with the people in their homes since resigning general practice for special work. But from what I have seen and do see daily and hear from my daily talk with people with

whom lam in touch, I should think the report is utterly unfounded, at any rate one sees no evidence of it in homes to which I have access, nor in the streets, which should be an eyeopener to any one who wishes to see rightly. DR. HELEN COWIE.—I do not see any evidence of increased home drinking. Alcoholic cases have decidedly decreased. I know of quite a few homes which are decidedly more comfortable as a direct result of NoLicense.

I DR. N. PRIOR—I had only about six months' experience of Masterton under License, and during that time did not see any great evidence of home drinking, but can say positively that I have not been able to detect any increase in that direction. During my first six months here I treated several drunks who made a distinct impression on my mind, for not one of them has. yet paid me, but since NoLicense came into operation I have not treated one case of drunkenness.

DR. COOK.—I do not think home drinking has increased. Personally I do not treat as many alcoholic cases now as before No-License came into force. I think that the homes of the poorer classes show greater evidence of comfort now, than they did previously. DR. J. A. COWIE.—I do not know of any home in Masterton where liquor is now consumed where it was not so consumed under License. Ido not have nearly so many calls to attend patients suffering from the effects of liquor now as when the bars were open. In fact, cases directly due to liquor have very much decreased. I can only call to mind having treated one case directly caused by drink since NoLicense came into operation. The homes of the drinking class which used to be very much neglected are now much improved; that look of poverty and abject misery has disappeared.

DR. A. HOSKING.—I don't know of any homes in the district where drinking has increased. I have never seen a person drunk or drinking in their homjssince No-License came into force. It's all rubbish to say that home drinking is increasing. I know of many cases- where that weak type of man who was guilty of over-indul-gence in liquor to the neglect of his wife and children, where,they are now better fed, clad and shod than under license. I have been told by many mothers of families of the improvement in their home comforts since | No-License came into operation. I know several station hands who in former days used to "blow in" their cheques, who now pride themselves in being able to come to town among their fellows, get rigged out, and go home at the end of their holiday feeling respectable members of society. Both in private practice and in the Hospital there are le:s cases under treatment which are due directly or indirectly to drink. Mr J. M. Coradine, Mayor of Masterton, in course of conversation said: "In my opinion business is not affected by the question in any way at present, and I think it will be a long time before one could form an accurate estimate of its effects. The reform has not been in operation long enough for me to venture an opinion on it." I also asked the ministers of religion for an expression of opinion as to the moral effects of No-License, which are as follows:

I REV. S. J. SERPELL.—Thi? is my | first experience of a town that was ! under. No-License. I have been here since thei 11th of April. In. all my intercourse, with men, in all my time in the streets, at all hoiirs of the day and night, I have not yet heard a profane word. One can take his wife or children into the streets of our town! at any time without any danger of them hearing anything they should not hear. Yesterday I went to the city; immediately after leaving Carterton bad language was frequently heard from those and others who got on the train there. I attribute the bad language usually heard in public places to the fact that men hare had liquor. It is just splendid having our town free from the wretched habit of profane language in the streets*,

j REV. ALFRED HODGE.—There can be no two opinions as to the good j effects that No-License has had upon ! the* town during the last two years, by those who knew it before then and I now. From a point of view of business it is true there have been some inSoßvencies; but why Masterton should be singled out is hard to say, considering that our neighbours under License "have fared worse than we. It is also highly probable, however, that had it not bqen for No-License the town would hot be in as good a pjosition as it is. I air. inclined to criticise the undue prominence that our citizens have given to the commercial side of" this great reform. The moral aide must be fearlessly urged. Business has nothing to do with it. It is simply and purely a question of Righteousness. ENSIGN AVENELL.—In reply to your request re my impressions regard- j ing No-License in Masterton, I may state I have only been a resident here for five months, and so am unable to compare it with three years ago. I would, however, like to point out that I find in Masterton an utter absence of those objectionable features which are the product of the open bar—young men lounging about street corners, using improper language, etc. Nor do I find in my rounds of visitation so many homes made unhappy- as is the case where the open bar flourishes; REV. A. T. THOMPSON, 8.A., B.D.—Jn answer to your request, I send you the following testimony which, as a citizen and minister of religion in Masterton for almost, five

years, I have much pleasure in submitting. Nothing, it would seem, but the set determination not to be convinced would enable one to hold out any longer against the accumulative and overwhelming evidence as to the improvement of Masterton in certain evident directions, and the success generally of No-License in our electorate during the period of its trial. Our Court returns tell the story of a distinct, I might say phenomenal improvement in the public morals. Our Savings Bank returns aided by the reliable evidence of reputable business men tell in favour of the financial well-being of the community. Our own eyes bear witness every.day to a cleaner, happier, healthier town. There are, I verily believe, more comforts in the homes of many of our people in consequence, and speaking as a minister there has been almost the entire disappearance of appeals for help, railway fares, meals, beds, de- ] posits and fees at labour bureaus, which used to be my continual experience under the licensed system. The change is, at leart in my experience, remarkable. My recent visit to the Old Country and the Continent made me come back more convinced than ever of the awful blight and curse of drink in a community, and of our own good fortune in Masterton \ and electorate to be rid of its licensed sale. It must never come back, as we value our own happiness, peace and : prosperity, and that of our fellow men

Sir Robert Stout, the Chief Justice, during the recent sittings of the Supreme Court in Masterton, made an I important statement regarding the absence of crime. (The statement, as previou'-ly published in the.age, was [ hero read.) [ I now come to the commercial as- [ pect of this reform,and am pleased to [ have the opportunity of offering some [evidence in contradiction of the ■ statement published in the "Manawatu Standard," and other papers, over the signature of J. J. Kelliher. I cannot in this report attempt to re- ! ply to all Mr Kelliher's statements, but will confine myself to assertion that Masterton is a striking example of (l)nnanoial enibarassment ness depression, and (3) general stagnation. First, in regard to the financial embr.-assment, I presume u, this Mr Kellihe-.- is referring to the bankruptcies that he has so often emphasised in our local and other papers; but I think that I can prove conclusively that in this, as in many other things, Masterton has quite held its own." I am not going to dispute the fart that bankruptcies during the present year have been numerous, but I do say that they do not show any abnormal increase. Half the year has gone and we have had 12, exactly half as many bankruptcies as we had for the whole of last year, viz., 24, but in amount of liabilities the whole 12 do not reach the half of last year's indebtne s by over £730. I here produce a return showing the number of bankruptcies filed for the past four and a half years.

Now, as touching Mr Keilihov's sco I ond point, -'Business depression," • I J have, as already stated, interviewed I practically all the retail shopkeepers in Masterton and received replies from 90 of them. Twenty-five refused to reply. In tabulating the replies received, I find that 82 of these have given favourable replies, v.hile eight only gave unfavourable, and that the concensus of opinion is that r-To-License has not prejudicial'v aflVrtod business, that it "has had a beneficial effect on the moral tone of the community, f-nd that it would be con-' trary to the best-interests of the, town to have, have licenses restored. I wiil now read to you a few of the replies L received from men whose name's I am notat liberty to divulge. (The 'replies' were here read.) I shall also read a few statements given me for pubMcnI tion, and in this connection I want to state that I will first read the reply of every opponent of whose name I am at liberty to divulge, and will follow this with a few of those whose replies are favourable to our reform. To read the lot would be to unduly prolong this meeting. (Mr Bridges nere read the unfavourable, and a considerable number of the favourable.) Now, in regard to the third point in Mr statement, "General stagnation." Under this heading I will produce an official statement of the valuation of rateable property for the years 1907-8-9-10, and ending March 31st 1911. The statement will speak for itself. I will also read a statement shewing the building permits issued for the years , ending June 30th, 1909-10-11. . j Building permits issued by Town I Clerk during year ended 30th June, 1909, 34, representing £14,000; 1910, 53, 4 £21,445; 1911, 48, £9759 17s 6d. I wjll also read an return ' showing the Masterton Savings Bank I business for the years 1908-9-10,. which,-coupled with the other tables | just read, make a fairly effective reply i to Mr Kelliher's assertion.

I We have had to face on many occasions during the past year or two a t statement that our population had decreased. One gentleman, writing from Wellington to the "Sydney Morning Herald," stated that the decrease in the convictions for drunkenness in Masterton was due to the decrease in population. But the census recently taken shows that there has been a slight increase since the previous census. The number of empty shops, too, has been particularly emphasised, the "Feilding Star," of a few days ago, being the latest authority. It says that there are 18. The fact is there are to-day II in Queen Street. The number of empty houses too, has been freely published, one writer, going so far as to say "that Masterton was full of empty houses and shops." On 'June 30th, 1908, there were 80 empty houses, and in April last there were only 52. The census showed that num-

I ber as being empty. I have'not had I them counted since then. LastceinU ; ::i cf 200 houses as againt that of 1000. Then there were 1011 houses in Masterton, 12 of them being unoccupied. This year we had 1211, 52 of them being unoccupied. This shows a net increase of 150 occupied houses in .the five years. Before closing my report, I want to add that- our President and myself recently interviewed every shopkeeper in Eketahuna, and were simply delighted with the result; only 9 out of forty stated that they would be I in favour of restoration, of licenses, I and although the question was not | put, 28 out of the 40 expressed themselves favourable to Dominion Prohibition. The full text of the Eketahuna business men's replies will be published at our meeting in Eketahuna next month. Mr the Mayor of Eketahuna, gave us the following statement for publication: What effect has No-license had on public order and the general moral tone of the comunmiiy? I .consider that the effect has in this respect been beneficial. Would it, in your opinion, be to the best interests of the town to have licenses restored? No. From a commercial .point of view, I think that the town as a whole lias experienced very little difference either to its benefit or to its detriment as a consequence cf No-license. From other points of view, (sobriety, moral tone, clean living, etc.), the town is, I think, th* better -Without licensed houses. No- -' license has .materially checked the drinking that was done by young men. I think thai) local option has mpny objections, but that a vote taken over the whole, of New Zealand would be fairer and more satisfactory .—(Signed) EDWARD PAGE, Mayor .of Eketahuna. 25t v « Mav, 1911. In closing, Si,r I wish to to the excellent results accruing from Ihe .recent visit of our esteemed friend, Mr Bedford, of Dunedin, whose address in this Hall on the Sunday night marked him-as an orator of whom any nation might well be proud. I would like to adi that in the coming struggle we purpose voting solid for No-tieer.se and Dominion Prohibition. ' .