UNDER NO-LICENSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14701, 19 June 1911, Page 5

UNDER NO-LICENSE.

PROSPERITY OF "DRY" AREAS.

LESS CRIME AND MISERY

The annual convention of the New Zealand Alliance closed in Wellington on Thursday, and during the afternoon some interesting statements were made regarding the operation of no-license in prohibition areas. .Mr. .1. T. Lull, who bad resided in Malaura for six years, said that he had only seen one drunken person under arrest in the Mataura borough. Motel accommodation was fully as good, if not better, than in license days. There was no evidence of home-drinking over what existed in license days. The Gore Court records showed a very great decrease in drunkenness, comparing the figures of the last five years of license and the first five years of no-license. Sly grog-selling was being effectively dealt with by the police. Mr. Fioggatt (ex-Mayor of Invercargill) testified to his knowledge of the great improvements in every direction since nolicense came into operation. There had been especially a great advance in building, and a great demand for dwellinghouses and business premises. 'The Rev. W. J. Williams. Oamaru, said the crime record had been reduced practically to a nullity. The moral tone bad been greatly improved, and business bad not, been injuriously affected. Mr. Williams admitted that local no-license had not been so perfectly successful as to be looked upon as the final solution of the. liquor problem.

Speaking of Clutha, the Rev. .'J. A. Hosting testified to the growth of the nolicense sentiment, as manifested in the steady and continuous growth of the vote. Balclutha was a complete refutation of the assertion that business was detrimentally affected by no-license. Mr. J. Watkinson testified that the juxtaposition of Grey Lynn electorate to Auckland City to some extent hindered the full benefits of the abolition of licenses. Thirty shops, over 400 dweUinghouees, and three"large halls had been built since nolicense cam.3 into operation. Seventy per cent, of the occupants owned their own dwellings. Good work had been done for a great number of years, tin's being one of the factors leading to, in band of hope work among the young, such good results. Mr. P. Mac Skimming spoke of the Bruce electorate, having been "a. resident _ there for the past 30 years. Speaking of Stirling, where a hotel had been, there bad been no evidence whatever of sly grog-sel-ling. At Kaitangata sly grog-selling was a diminishing quantity, as was also the keg system. At Milton, where four hotels had formerly existed, since the locker system had ended there was little or no evidence of sly grog-sslling. At Lawrence Gabriel's Gully jubilee was recently celebrated, and there was no evidence whatever of drunkenness. Masterton experience was detailed by Mr. D. McGregor, who said there had been a great reduction in court cases. Post office savings bank deposits had increased ,by about £1000 per month. He had no evidence of home-drinking being on the increase, bilt knew of one ca.se where it had existed in license days where it did not j now exist In answer to questions Mr. McGregor said that some hotel premises had been closed, and were still lying idle, owing to the unwillingness of brewerowners to let them. : The Rev. F. Thompson spoke on behalf of Wailii. and affirme*d that no-license had been a decided success from a business, propertv. and moral point of view. He dealt with the charges of Mr. Parry, of the Miners' Union, in regard to poverty and the failure of the churches to relieve cases. The police had dealt very effectively with the sly grog-seller. Dealing with Mr. ('. IT. Poole's statement, Mr. Thompson eulogised the general behaviour of the men of the town, while at the same time Mr. Poole's statement was perfectly correct when not perverted. Mr. L. A. Faulkner spoke on behalf of the Eden electorate. The population was largely composed of business and workmen. who did not want liquor bars. The four hotels formerly existing were purely drink shops, and did not exist for the purpose of supplying lodging and table accommodation. ' Avondalc, a small township, had improved from a business point of view. At Henderson there had been a verv considerable "clean up" of the characters who resorted thither on the plea for another chance at the police court.