TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 22, 30 June 1911, Page 4

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

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

EFFECT OF NOLICENSE. GREAT INCREASE IN BANK DEPOSITS. Masterton experience was detailed by Mr D.McGregor who said there had been a great reduction in court cases. Post office savings bank deposits had increased by about £IOOO per month. He had no. evidence of home drinking being on the increase, but knew of one case where it had existed in license days where it did not now exist. In answer to questions Mr McGregor said that some hotel premises had been closed, and were still lying idle owing to the unwillingness of brewer owners to let them. ASHBURTON CLEAN AND PROSPEROUS WITHOUT LICENSES. INDUSTRIAL PROSPERITY. The Rev. W. J. Elliott, of Ashburton, said his sojourn had been brief, but long enough to convince him of the beneficial effects of No-license. Industrial . and commercial prosperity was in no way retarded, and the building trade was busy. The town was clean and prosperous, and the sum of £3 would cover all the loss on uncollected rates during the past seven years. The sales of merchandise in connection , with one firm in Ashburton in 1902 amounted to £33,210, but in 1911 the amount was £67,913. It had been said Ashburton was "going to blazes" and the consumption of gas in the borough gave some colour to this. For 1901-2 it was 5,579,600 cubic feet, but in 1909-IO it rose to 10,290,000 cubic feet. He did not deny there was sly grogselling, but he had little or no evidence of home drinking. In 1902 convictions for drunkenness were 117, but they were sixty-one in 1910, and thirty-five of the latter were either arrested on alighting from the train .or procured the liquor from the outside electorates. Ashburton, he concluded, was prosperous, there being few, if any, empty houses. The town was an asylum in some respects for persons seeking protection from. drink, and there were few, * if any, prohibited people there. WAIHI.—SLY GROG PUT DOWN. The Rev. F. Thompson, on behalf of Waihi, affirmed that No-license had been a decided success from a business point of view. He dealt with the charges of Mr Parry, of the Miners' Union, in regard to poverty and the failure of the churches to relieve cases. The police had very effectively with the sly grog-seller. Dealing with . Mr C. H. Poole's statement Mr Thompson eulogised the general behaviour of the men of the town, while at the same time Mr Poole's statement was perfectly correct when not perverted GREY LYNN—GREAT BOOM IN BUILDING. 400 HOUSES AND 30 SHOPS. Mr J. Watkinson testified that the juxtaposition of Grey Lynn electorate to Auckland city to some extent hindered the full benefits of the abolition of licenses. Thirty shops, over 400 dwelling-houses, and three large halls had been built since No-license came into operation. 70 per cent of the occupants owned their own dwellings.