NIGHT NO. 1 IN A PROHIBITION TOWNSHIP.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8507, 29 June 1896, Page 3

NIGHT NO. 1 IN A PROHIBITION TOWNSHIP.

i '' to the editor. i ' Sir, — I had the good fortune (as some folks would say) to spend a night m a prohibition township not ten miles from Oamaru, and I might also state I had the. pleasure of spending a few of the happiest hours of my life m New Zealand m tho near vicinity of the same township before all this prohibition was talked about, and ■ if we are to judge by the conversation of the youth m Prohibition Township No. 1, or the way thoy may accost any stranger ' whom they may meet, their morals aro i not improved by prohibition.-- On my going to the post office to see about letters ' I met two youths, and I am certain i neither of them were over 12 years of age, l one of. whom politely aaked me for a match, wliich was all right, only he used ' the prefix -, for which a man not long ■ ago was had up m one of our R. M. Courts by a Salvation Army captain. I was also requested to buy a concert ticket by another promising youth, and when I rei fused ne turned to another and politely enquired who the I was, and the equally parliamentary reply was the response: "Some psalm-singing ." Now, I suppose the prohibition parents ' of those children — for I can call them nothing else — consider because there are no gin shops m the township their young. Biers can do no harm, and are all. right to stop out to all hours ; but if I am to judge by this place, I think prohibition, like charity, ought to begin at home ; but as I ani likely to be travelling for some time m the district I will not trouble you any further at present, but will give you my experience truthfully of each township (prohibition or otherwise) as I find them.— l am, eto., . Traveller.