LOCAL OPTION POLL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13048, 13 December 1905, Page 6

LOCAL OPTION POLL.

VIEWS OF THE REV. W. THOMSON, {

REACTION AGAINST NO-LICENSE.

A PROGRAMME OF REFORM.

[by. TELEGRAPH.— correspondent.]

Dunedin, Tuesday. " There is a •, good deal of difference of opinion in Dunedin as to .whether the prohibitionists : or the moderate party are entitled to claim thafc tho local option polls have gone in their favour. ,

The Rev. W. ■ Thomson expresses. the opinion unreservedly that there has been a great reaction against no-license, and in an interview published to-day he says:—"The reaction was in a measure due to several causes—-one'.. the improved condition of tho hotels, and tho great decrease in drunkenness, as proved by Inspector O'Brien's report. A third cause was' that many voters refused- to support no-license because it meant grave injury to many of their fellow men. A fourth reason was the extravagant and foolish language of no-license advocates, but. the principal cause of the reaction was that Dunedin is mostly Scotch. At all .events, I suppose I am right when I say that 50 per cent, of the people are either Scotch or of Scotch origin." .

"Well, and what do you mean by that?" queried the interviewer.

Scotch people believe their creed. Scotland more than any other nation in the world fought for liberty, and after centuries of. conflict her efforts were crowned with victory. -A Scotsman is nothing if he is not free, and he traces his freedom to his Bible, which ho loves, reveres, and takes as his guide. Now, let me tell you that to my knowledge scores of Scotsmen, when .they realised how drastic the no-license laws of the colony are, declared that they would vote against no-license. One instance among many will show what I mean. A* Scotsman, who is a very good churchman, asked me at the close of a lecture if it was true that if his house , was raided and more liquor was found than was deemed necessary, it would be regarded as evidence against him that he was selling grog. [ replied that that was so. He answered ' What a piece of tyranny. I voted prohibition before, but never again.' '-.- Asked as to what his future work would be, Mr. Thomson said, " I thank you for asking nic that question. In answering, I speak under a great sense of responsibility. [ am free to carry out my own programme of reform, and I am certain I will succeed. I shall get the assistance of all the moderate section of the. community, but by a policy of ;conciliation I hope to get. the support of many who supported no-license. You can be perfectly certain that everything will be done that can reasonably be expected. I shall hope to be able to show to Dunedin and the colony that reform is quite practicable, and, being so, can be accomplished." " Supposing an hotelkeeper commits a serious breach of the law, what action will you take?"

" My action will be as serious for him as his has been detrimental to the'trade.' If a prosecution is considered necessary it will be done. If it it; thought necessary to oppose his license I will oppose it. The severest measures you may be sure will be taken .against any one guilty of any serious offence. 1 think that should be satisfactory." ■' \' ' ' - ~ ■ ! OAMARU PRESBYTERY SATISFIED. [by rEi,K«KAPH. —press association.] ■ '. v Oamaku, Tuesday. •-, At a meeting of the Oamaru Presbytery to-day a resolution was unanimously passed, expressing .satisfaction with the result of the local option poll, and congratulating the electors, who so decisively expressed their voice in this matter. Devout thanksgiving was also expressed for so desirable an issue to the persevering labours of the friends of temperance. ■ • ■ • • j ; , . MARSDEN. ; The Marsden-official figures are: Continuance, 2208 reduction, 2136; no-li-cense, 2792. Total votes (including informal), 5224. No proposal is carried. \ . .' .ELLESMERE. ■ r The final returns for Ellesmere are: I Continuance, 1871; reduction, 13-19; no--1 license, 1752., Continuance is carried.