NO-LICENSE AREAS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 June 1909, Page 1

NO-LICENSE AREAS.

SOME PERSONAL EXPER IENCKS.

MR RANKING'S REPORT

Included 'ii lho valuablo report which .Mr l{. A. Ranking, senior police magistrate in Brisbane, submit led In tin 1 Premier concerning bis inquiries into the liquor traflic in New Zealand, is a summary of liis c\piriences in the nu-liconso districts. AT ASHBURTON Mr Ranking remained two days. This town, ho says is (lie centre of a thriving district, mid it bears evidence of having been in its early days controlled by a far-seeing local authority, whose labors in initiating improvements have clearly been followed np in later years. Public and private buildings and reserves alike impart to the town an air of prosperity which it would tike years of declension of business to diinininsh. Not that is reason to fear that any sucli declension is in progress, although there are not wanting local prophets of evil, and at the election of 1908, Ashburton town, as distinguished from the district as u. whole, polled heavily in favor of restoration of licenses. Whilst the quantity of beer and stout known to have been introduced during the past four years lias steadily decreased the importation of whisky had risen from 1832 cases in 1905 to 2563 cases in 1907. During these years the brandy imported rose from 301 bottles to 780 bottles. The returns to 30th June, were whisky, 1287 cases ; brandy 348 bottles; with beer showing a still further reduction, all of which points to the conclusion that a taste is being created for fclie consumption of spirits ito the exclusion of beer. Excursion trains to adjacent districts, such ns Christchurch and Timaru, are freely patronised by residents, some of whom are upon their return intoxicated,

AT INVERCARGILL, said to be the fifth largest town in New Zealand, there are splendid public and private buildings, but the town seems to lack the outward signs of energetic business life that one would expect to find. Outside tha boundary of the electorate is a brewery doing a considerable trade with the residents of the town and district in two and live gallon kegs of beer. Three thousand of these kegs were sent into the district in the month of January and this amount is said to constitute the average importation in that direction. At Wallaccfown, four miles distant, is a hotel freely patronised by a section of the residents of Invercargill. Air Ranking visited this hotel early one evening, and be concluded that the hotelkeeper was making a fortune witJi rapidity.

The introduction uf beer in small kegs constitutes a serious hindrance to the successful trial of the no-license system. Parties of youths on Saturdays and holidays consume the contents of these kegs. Youths employed in factories and workshops join together to purchase such kegs; the youngest bads are permitted to coiitrioute and participate; every such keg must be consumed when broached, the. quality of (he beer not admitting of its being kept; the youngest contributor is entitled to share equally with his elders. The resultant evils to the yonug, many of such an age as to prohibit the supply of liquor to them af an Imt,! bar. cannot be overlooked. AT GORE,

the most populous centre <>f the Alataura district., the value of tlio nolicense vote is ntiteh discounted —(it) by the facility with which liquor is introduced, either legally or surreptitiously, by means of rail and by a coach. The beer brewed is sent a few miles to a depot in a license district! is ordered from there, and is - returned daily in two and live gallon kegs for delivery at the brewery. About 50 such kegs came to the brewery on the afternoon of my visit, were unloaded, and left outside the building. as though awaiting immediate delivery. The consumption of one of these kegs (two gallons) by a parly of four youths was witnessed later in the evening. The surrounding circumstances of the case favored the supposition that each youth would that evening consume two quarts of beer. AT OAMAHU .Mr Ranking was informed by the railway st.ationmaster, a moderate drinkerami much impressed with the value of temperance, "as tending towards raising the type of onr race,” that fully two-thirds of the liquor which formerly came into the town in bulk form, now comes in in small kegs and in parcels, much being now ease whisky. Every train brings packages of liquor consigned to residents of Oamarn, and the officer has noticed much carrying and consuming of the liquor by passengers in trians which did not previusly obtain. Drunken passengers removed from railway premises tire for the most part residents, temporary or otherwise, of Oamarn. A firm of brewers, who. before “nolicense had m* share in tin* Oamarn trade, sent there in the last six months of 1906, 4280 gallons 5 in 1907. 7815 gallons; in 1908. 7995 gallons, till in live and ten gallon kegs, to private customers. It. is certain, however, says .Mr Hanking, that in spite of everything, Oamarn is a properotis town, which has no doubt, benetittei! by the removal from its streets of the drunken reveller. "Again, however." he says, "arises the question at what cost i-i (he iDiug generation and to the uprightness of character of tlie men and women of to-day, has I bis mi is,-nice been abated