NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 182, 31 July 1908, Page 6

NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

ME ISITTS REPLY TO CRITIC& A large audience assembled last evening in the Baptist Tabernacle for the purpose of bearing a lecture by Mr Leonard lsitt, the well-known No-license advocate. The Rev. Knowles-Kempton introduced the lecturer. Mr lsitt contended that the outlook for No-license was one over which they could well feel jubilant, and spent some time in drawing a contrast between tho present position of the movement the world over with what it was two year* ago. ~Mr lsitt then quoted statistics to disprove statements that have been published to the effect that No-license has injured Ashburton. He said Ashburton was the weakest case they had, because the No-license victory was due in the first place to 600 liquor votes, which were cast to shut the hotels, with a view to getting the whole trade for a club. When they found the club was closed as well, they. found out their mistake, and next election voted for licenses, and there was a majority in favour of renewing the licenses, but the three-fifths were not secured. That, however, showed the weakness of the position as far as Ashburton was concerned. Mr lsitt claimed that they were not trying to close the liquor bars against the will of the people, but simply wanted to put the power in the hands of the voters to close the bars. They did not wish to run ahead of public opinion, but wished to convince the people that No-license was best for the country. Mr lsitt admitted that there was sly-grog selling in Ashburton, but contended that the whole lot put together did not sell as much liquor as one licensed house did before it was closed. Referring to Inverr*rgill under No-li-cense, Mr lsitt quoted from the "Southland Times" to show that of the 153 convictions for drunkenness, 61 cases got drink at the depots, 32 at Bruce, and 27 at Wallacetown, or from places within easy reach of Invereargill by rail. As to the charges of theft, a large number of them were against four boys who were continually getting into trouble, and had j since been sent to the industrial school. He contended that statistics should not ibe quoted from a place where the job was I only half done, and asked why the liquor people did not quote statistics as to the effect of No-license in Clutho. Mr lsitt quoted numerous statistics to prove that property- had increased in value in Ashburton and Invereargill under No-license. Mr lsitt announced that he would deliver another address this evening, which -would be free, and as for the popular one he had intended to give, he would perhaps do that after the polls were dei clared. I =====