TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 16, 9 June 1911, Page 4

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

HAS NO-LICENSE BEEN A FINANCIAL SUCCESS IN INVERCARGILL ?

(This column is the property of the ' Waikalo' No-License League, and we are in no way responsible for the opinions expressed. — Ed. W.P.)

A very remarkable state of things has taken place in Invercargill, according to the valuation roll which has just been published. The opponents of Nolicense have continually asserted —without a shadow of proof we admit —that when No-license comes into operation, not only does all property depreciate in value, but hotel property in particular goes down with a bump,, and those unfortunates ' who have been foolish enough to invest their money in this class of security, will certainly lose it. Now, the Municipal rate-book of Invercargill, which is open for public inspection, proves directly the opposite, as taking 17 hotels and comparing their capital value in 1904 and now, in each case there is an increase which amounts to a total of £23,802 for the 17 hotels, or something like 36 per cent" increase during the period of No-license. This is no fairy tale, but a fact which can be checked by any ratepayer applying to the proper authorities in the usual way. While we do not for one moment claim all this increase as being due to. No-license, yet we do claim that it effectually settles the bogey that has so long been held up by pro-liquor men, that if No-license = were carried, the houses would not be required, and would depreciate in value, and loss would result to their owners. Invercargill under partial No-license has shown a splendid record of progress and prosperity, and no doubt when the adjoining electorates fall into line, as sooner or later they are bound to do, then Southland will give the rest of the Dominion a splendid object lesson in the benefits of No-license. That is to say, unless in the meantime, Dominion No-license should be carried, and the whole land go dry, a consummation most devoutly to be wished for.

The total estimated expenditure on alcoholic liquors last year in the United Kingdom was £157,604,658, an increase of £2,442,175 on the previous year. This amounts to about Ifourpence per head of the , estimated population of the United Kingdom ; and seeing that 1910 was a year of great prosperity, the increase might have been greater. It is a thousand pities that an increase of prosperity means greater facilities for drinking, and consequently greater debauchery and crime. But undoubtedly the two things go hand in hand, and given more money, instead of it meaning more comfort arid happiness in the homes of the working man, as a rule it means just the opposite. The traffic has not attained such a hold on New Zealand as it has at' Home, and we feel sure it never will.. At the same time it behoves every person who wishes his country well, to fight this insidious foe. Drink means danger every time.