No License in Clutha.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 18, 8 July 1899, Page 3

No License in Clutha.

The Library Hall was three parts i filled on Thursday evening to hear Mr ftoreham lecture on " No License in fllutln a failure." The Mayor (Dr Barclay) was voted lo'the chair and inttoduced the speaker. He explained that so far as his official capacity went he was willing to preside at meetings held by representative* loaders of each party, but he did not feel called" upon to do so for every one who wished to address a gathering on this subject, unless he happened tcr be present, and was asked by the meeting to preside ] ast as any other citizen might be. Mr Boreham said before he proceeded he would move a vote of sympathy with the friends and" relatives of the late Mr Dooley. Mr W. J. Mack seconded this and it 'Was earned, all standing bareheaded. The speaker then went on. with his address, claiming the right -as a free eitiKen of a free country to addessthem." From the very beginning of time no enactment prohibitory to liquor had Wn kppt by the people. If men were inclined to take too much drink the *»-w provided? that they themselves, of

their friends could take a prohibition order againss them. But why should those who did not diink to excess be debarred the use oE alcohol. Prohibitiouists iv other parts of the world would believe New Zealanders were not capable of taking care of themselves. If a thief shut himself up in a house all his life, then there was no credit due to him for being honest. Years of study had brought alcoholic beverages almost to perfection, and were they to throw away the results of this great amount of research and invention. The testimony of leading citizens of the Clutha showed that " No-License " had been a failure in preventing drinking, and had failed to encourage indus try and commercial progress, and this, notwithstanding the assertions of the Prohibition leaders to the contrary. Prohibition created an increase of the worst classes of crime, and perjury had increased to an alarming extent. It had also created Local jealousy and stiifc. The testimony of Inspector Pa/dy, who favored Prohibition, was, that in spite of all his work, the drink was brought in in as great quantities a3 before. The stationmaster at Tapanui gave similar evidence. Others said that in many places where drink never entered, it was now kept in the house as a regular thing. One reputable merchant said there was no^ so much drunkenness now, for the prohibitionists and the sly grog seller unwittingly leigued together, one to save his skin, and the other to keep down the record of crime. He threw out a challenge to the Prohibition leaders to prove that Clutha was benefited, but he thought if they had any prudence thoy would not try to prove it. The lecturer, who soemed to have a good grasp of his side of the question, then dealt at length with the results of prohibition as evidenced by statistics. He said that he would like all present to subscribe towards the expense of the hall, etc., if they were so disposed. He had spent J63 in getting the ballot for Waikakahi held in Waimate, and could not afford to bear all these expenses. At the close of his address, the chairman intimated that Mr Boreham would answer auy fluestions. Mr W. Lundon asked what was the increase in juvenile crime in Clutha. Mr Boreham could not tell that, but the juvenile crime all over the colony was very little, especially in Waimate, where there was " whips of beer." Mr Valk moved a vote of thanks to the speaker for entertaining them that | evening. ' Mr Lundon seconded this, only adding that the meeting remain undecided as to the result of Prohibition in Clutha. Mr W. J. Black moved as an amendment, and Mr Costello seconded, that a hearty vote of thauks be accorded" Mr Boreham, adding that he had put the case very plainly, and some of the' other side might take another evening and give them some more fun. The mover withdrew his motion, and the amendment was put and carried. A vote of thanks to the chair ended the meeting.