VIEWS ON NO-LICENSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue XXXVI, 13 December 1902, Page 4

VIEWS ON NO-LICENSE.

TWU DIFFERENT OPINIONS, Tbe " A-hburton Guardian's " reporter interviewed several bn.-iness men in the district concerning tbeir opinion of the effect of prohibition in the district. " My idea is, " said a tradesman, " that it will be harmful to th© trades of the town, especially the diapers end grocers. Another thing, it will do much barm to labour at har.est time. Harvest bands, as a rale, prefer to go where they can bave drink as they want it, and yoa will find tbat it will be difficult to get harvest hands to come here. Farmers from the Clntha have told me that they can't get hands at harvest time, aud the reason why I have stated. 1 don't tkink it will mako uncb difference in the perishable goods trade. There will be a dullness of course for a while, but we will have to get used to that." Ia conversation with the President of the Clnb, tbe reporter was informed tbat in bis opinion if that private institatiya loses its character, and no drink can be sold within iti walls, (be lines it would bo ruu upon would be m the direction of making it a- attractive a public resort as possible. Members and their wivecould come in at any lime aud partake of " the cup thafc cheers but; Lot inebriates." The Club has an extensive library, which those who bave never ben iii the building before could take adva - tags of. The mimbership should increase, and be saw no reason ct all why it should not be a flourishing in-tiluiioa nnder no-licen=c. •' A Moderate Drinker'" in a long letter to the Wellington " Post " ou the results of the local option poll throaghoutbe colony, says :-' With yoar p?rmist sion L would like to make a few observations on the liquor education, ane recent local option poll ha- undoubtedly provided ' lhe tra lo ' with much wholesome food for rofleclion ; but I fear a great deal ef misapprehension exists as to the composition of the no-licenße party, which is generally supposed to consist of parsous, sanctimonious church-goers, and religious fanatics. I therefore propose to give the following facts, which may throw some light on tho subject: 1 un one of tho mo-t uugodly men living — I " take a glass " when I feel disposed to do so. aad never go to church ; yet I roted prohibition, My wife, wh^ is similarly irreligiou?, did likewise. A friend of mine wbo spends the greater part of his earoii.gs oa drink, and resort- to all BOits of devices lo get it (often walks miles for " a glass," or in the hope of getting one when placed beyond the reach of it), yet bo - conscious of the evils of the traffic, aud de-irou- of savb g the ri-ing generation from temptation to which he himself has succumbed— -voted for prohibition. Hi3 wife, whois not averse from an occasional glass, also struck out the top liue. I coulj recite maoy similar insracces. An elderly a<.c-ua in Lance of mine, wbo haa alwaya beou a moderate drinker, and has lived in hotels practically all his life, st^tea that his cynipathy and vote always go with the no-license part>, anj be declares tbat fully Dinetenths of his fellow-lodgers in one of the principal hotels of the city voted for probioition ou election day, Thes facts go to prove that the patrons of '■ the trade " are dea ly enemies of tbe liqa.ir traffic, and that it is doomed in New Zealand — a fact for which allconsCi'cnlious patriots whether drinkers or non-driakers, mast feel thankful. A system attacked from within as well a^ without surely cannot Isst long."