NO-LICENSE FOR MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10491, 30 November 1911, Page 6

NO-LICENSE FOR MASTERTON.

[To The Editor,]

Sir, — All the arguments used by the Liquor Party and lifs> supporters in favour of restoration' of licenses in. Masterton is the business and 1 monetary aspect of the question, and thfrs I submit; is ••not supported .by the largest and most responsible business \in the to win, outside those directiry interested in tlie Trade. What aibo.ut the miarall l aspect elf .the question.? Why, Sir, I know of women in) Mastenton who are shivering in. tllieJia* shoes for fear lfcenßies wii/.: ibe restored. No-licens© means ito them, comfort, kindness, and plenty. License means' misery, abuse and want. It is aill very well for a few ■business' men who favour restoration:; ibe-y are Giving in afXluencfi, and their greatest difficulty is in getting a wasterwiomain. These women, whowere forced to stick at the washtuh tor keep their homes together and' provide for theirchildren., are now ablla to attend to their ihomes, as their hulsbands' wages are not spent ait (tlkie Hiquor bar, but go to provide for the famiilly's- needs. Then again, Siir, people are asking wliy don't the liquor party bring out a mam to advocate their cause from the public platform ? There are maniy who wouQd' like to hear the iar,gumentis in favour of the liquor traffic. I would myself, Sir. They know they cam produiae nothing in libs- favour, excepting that there is money in lit for those who sell it. Why, jmst before the lastpolll, a. member of a, business firm here wrote to a promdment and faifliwentialli member of tlie Jjicen«ed Victuallers' ' Association, asking hiim to send l a man- to Masterton to reply to the Nolicense advocates. He (replied 1 : "Sir, don't deispise your enemy, fbr every airgumerit we can put forward in favour of the liquor traffic, the other side has a dozen better ones against at." Da- AV. H. Hashing is my authority for the .above statement. I challenge to call' a public meeting to champion their cafuse, givlhag the No-flftcense- party the right to reply from the 'same platform. They ■dare not dio it. In Aliasing, I would (appeal to those who may be indifferent as to the resiilt of tine' coming poU to consider the women and children. It lis a matter of great importance to some of them. Think of it I Miserable- homes, abuse, and want in case of license; comfort, 'kindness and plenty, iff No-'lteenise is . .retained, an/d to use their influence and vote for the betterment of the people. Thanking you ,in. anticipation.— I am, etc., THOMAS DIXON.