INVERCARGILL UNDER PROHIBITION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12852, 10 July 1907, Page 7

INVERCARGILL UNDER PROHIBITION.

» THE LOCKER SYSTEM CONDEMNED. "AN UNDOUBTED EVASION OF THE LAW." (special to "the press.") , WELLINGTON, July 9. In the course of hie report on tlu* Invercargill district, Polio© Inspector Mitchell says:—No-lioenso obtained in the Invercargill licensing district on the Ist July last, consequent upou which (a) Brewery depots were established at Waikiwi, on the margin of the Noliceiuse aro-a, at which youths and men purchase beer in two gallon and five gallon kegs, oftontimee when not in a fit state to be supplied. It is by no means an uncommon eight to see v number of young fellows collected round a keg on the roadside or in an adjoining pad Jock, some of them showing signs of excessive drinking, and yet the police are helpless to con trol such sales, the vendors being sub jectod to no restrictions. (b) The locker system came into ex istenco at four establishments hero 'J 'hie evstem as oarried on is, I think, an undoubted evasion of the law. The closing of tho open bar has materially improved the order and conduct in the streets, and to my own knowledge many homos that formerly knew misery through its existence, now enjoy happineus and contentment. At the same time the consumption of liquor in Southland, as shown in tho Customs return, has not decreased. During the nine months ended the 31st luarcn last, 78 cases of drunkenness were be-foi-e the Invercargill Court, and in all cases but one the supply of liquor conclusively traced to sources outside the No-license area—Bluff, by rail 1.7 miles; Woodlands, by rail 12 mike: Wallacetown, by road or rail five miles; and Waikiwi depots, by road three miles-r-eo that it will be readily seen the facilities for obtaining liquor are numerous, and prevent No-licenso receiving a Tair trial. During tho samo period five convictions have been reoorded here for ely-grog selling, resulting in fines totalling £250, and a- ,- though we have a population of over 13,000. there is no reason to believe that illicit salfe of liquor are at present being carried on to any appreciable extent.