MASTERTON UNDER NOLICENSE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10467, 3 November 1911, Page 4

MASTERTON UNDER NOLICENSE.

A few weeks back we found it necessary to give tflie lie .to certain reckless statements published in Palmerston relative to. the -condition of Mtasiter'ton. und<M' JSto-Jicense. We had then no brief from the No-Icense Party in the mlatter. We have none to-day. But when we find a fulkpage sheet islsued by a Wellington newspaper, g'iVting photographs io>f omlpty bot*lesi and) empty shops-, together with extravagant misH&tatements concerning this town, we are impelled itto enter a .further protest. Mastenton has endured a period of depression as a result of a r-eaction. after a.boom. That depression, however, is passing away much more rapidiry than is the- depression in Wellington, and trade is on a sound and good footing. It is, therefore, astonishing Kiliat any trade oir organisation should seek do damage the reputation o± the place, with apparent. Ty no other object'than to bolster up a particiu.liar cause. We are toM that the Caled'ondan Society made a Ib.sss of £6l out,their la s.t, .sports .meeting as a result ott No-Mo&iißie. Tuniis ,ia. fialse. IThie ,S|t. Paitriok'is Day Association succumbed' altogether owing to the carrying of No-lic-ense. IMs .also is -fa3|se. TheTpeopfe of Masterton Iftive- absolutely loist confidence and faith in their owji do win. This is utterly untrue. The buiMing penmiits issued by the Mastentoiii Borough Council show a decrease of £6OOO and. £SOOO each yelar since t/he advent of No-license. This is fia'lbe. The statement i-eglardiing tlie numiber of bankfruptoies in Masfeton isf also false. Almost the wfbM'e wretched thing is transparent fialsehlood, published with an object—and that objeafc to bring a weflft-con-ducftedi, "tiluiuvrag and prosperous! centre into disrepute. We do not care a snap of the finger for the No-Inc-ense Painty on- the Trade. We are, -pcrfrdtly ifucllepcwicfcii't" of either par'fcy;' But we liave a,n intense respect. ,for the hu aniens conwiuMiity of tMs :towiiiFllvip and for the reputation of ■th district.. And we smy unßesiitatingily that any person or persons v whb assert tihlati Mn.Fite.rtou .is in a .worse p'odtion than other townsihiips, iso fai'. as tinadp is concerned, anid ,wiho sttfte that the people have lost donfkteincie in their town,, are >-rui'ltv of the moat yeekiless and wanton disregard for the itrut I '. and are ■Stooping to the moßt miserable' and vleispicablp met to serve their owai vl::ir!-rf purpose.