ABOUT OAMARU.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 1 August 1911, Page 2

ABOUT OAMARU.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Before replying to Tokaora correspondent's remarks about Oamaru I must mention that I do not belong to the inner circle of prohibitionists. Beyond voting right and giving a few shillings to forward a good cause, I am unconnected with the party. There is no reference in my letter to farming, freezing, or any other industry, merely a question about the estimates of criminality in Oamaru. However, I shall endeavor to reply to a few of his. meanderings. Tokaora states that "the residents j gave me the information that they did not possess energy enough to get up a dog fight." Your correspondent has evidently been associating with a class who regard dog-fighting as the acme of civilisation; but as this form of recreation is not usually regarded as a test of intelligence, their opinions as to the success or non-success of nolicense may be discounted. With reference to Mrs 's conviction, I trust she realises the fact that "it is hard to kick against the pricks." Prohibition will prohibit if we have a police that will do their duty/ and a magistrate who will administer the law in its entirety. He advises me to keep my powder dry until after he has given his account of what no-license has done. He has in a former article hinted several times he has crushing statements to make about the demoralising effect of prohibition. The possession of this information is evidently worrying him (I hope not into a premature grave). The party has been threatened with annihilation before, but it refuses to "stay dead," and at the present moment is more vigorous than ever. It is easy to understand that seeing no unemployed on the street corners, and no loafing round hotels, and possibly feeling thirsty, gave Tokaora a pessimistic view of the future of Oamaru. He deplores the fact that the freezing works are closed down, and dimly hints it is owing to the baneful effects of nolicense. Waitara and Patea works are closed down and our cows are giving very small returns, license notwithstanding. With reference to your correspondent's kindly hope that the party I am championing" will make provision for my wants, 1 may say that as I have not considered it my duty to support the hotels, and having rather more energy than his (would-be) dog-fight-ing friends, I "have already secured a competence, and will not need the assistance either of prohibitionists or old age pension. Having given Justice Williams's statements, allow me to add Oamaru medical testimony. "Our united experience shows that there is a decrease in the cases treated which result from alcoholism. We are convinced that np-license has been of great benefit to the community from a moral and health point of view. (Signed) Albert, J. Garland, James Whitton, Alexander Douglas, Kenneth McAdam."

The Mayor of Oamaru signs the following statements: "There is a good deal less public drunkenness, in fact, there is very little of it. practically no private drunkenness. The moral tone is excellent. Business good. Rateable value of properties steadily increased. Borough rates decreased 3d in the £ on the annual value. There are no empty houses in Oamaru. Surely these statements must carry some weight against Tokaora ramblings and the irresponsible statements of his lackadasical friends—the would-be promoters of dog-fights.—l am, etc.. TURU-TURTJ-MOKAI.