HOW PROHIBITS WORKS IN CLUTHA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1425, 22 June 1899, Page 25

HOW PROHIBITS WORKS IN CLUTHA.

WHAT THE MAYOR OF BALCLUTHA SAYS. T lie following is a copy of a letter to Mr Joseph Paul, of New Plymouth, from Mr George Thomson, .Mayor of Clutha : “James Paul, Esq., New Plymouth. —DearSir, —In reply to yours of 23th April, re the working of Prohibition in Clutha, you ask, ‘Has prohibition been a success?’ say ‘no,’ for the following reasons: —(1) Drink is in homes where it was never thought of before prohibition came in force. (2) Hundreds of respectable people are to be seen entering alleged sly-grog shops, men who, according to the liberal laws of our young country, should be entitled to their glass if they wish it. Even we, as magistrates, do not look upon it as a crime, believing in the Bible-—‘Not that which gocth into the mouth defileth aman.’ (3) The police staff is the same as it has been for years, and I have been assured by the local constable that his duties are so arduous that lie has applied for a change. (I) You ask, ‘Has there been less crime ?’ To this I say “No.” The most serious attempted crime has occurred within the last month, viz., the setting fire to a dwelling with two helpless women sleeping therein. (5) Prosecutions for sly-grog selling since prohibition came into force—To the best of my knowledge there have been about 87. (6) There lias been, one cf our leading business men, nominally a strict teetotaller, who was sued for sly-grog selling before prohibition was carried hero. However the responsibility of the crime fell on to Ms beloved wife, who was fined in the sum of £3 and costs. At that time we had four hotels and two bottle licenses, or, in other words, an income of £240 a. year to the borough. But though we had six licenses they wpre not able to cope with the' business without this leading business man assisting in the trade. (7) With reference to Mr Taylor’s assertion regarding myself and my truthfulness, I can only say to the public that I have been 28 years in Balclutho, during which time I have contested 18 elections, municipal and Licensing Committees, and I have been returned every time . During that time also I had the honour to be Mayor four times in succession, and last year I contested the Mayoralty with one of the most red-hot prohibitionists in this town, and beat him by a. large majority. So I think my career will compare very favourably with Mr T. E. Taylor’s with regard to truthfulness, although he is an M.K.R. Sir, in conclusion I give you the following as my honest opinion:—‘Prohibition has utterly failed here—in the first place as regards business; secondly, as regards morality; and thirdly as regards general prosperity.’ You have asked my candid opinion, and I have given it to you truthfully and honestly, regardless of Mr T. E. Taylor’s assertions against me. —I remain yours faithfully, George Thompson, Ma vo r. ” Balclutba, Bth May, 1899.