PROHIBITION IN PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13080, 16 September 1904, Page 3

PROHIBITION IN PORT CHALMERS.

TO TIIB EDITOB, Sin,—On perusing Mr Nicholls's letter in your issue of tlio sth inst. in contradiction to your reporter's statement I was forcibly struck with "tho dodgery displayed to bolster up his cause. That your article on tho above subject has put tlio prohibitionists into a corner there is no gainsaying, and they aro in core straits now to find an j answer favourable to themselves to combat! it. The information .supplied by you is from business people brought immediately face to faco with tlio general depression! existing at Port Chalmers. There are many others, not interviewed by your reporter, who can tell tho same tale, but, having n wholesome dread of the boycott which on many occasions in Port has been usod against somo through speaking their minds freely, they aro naturally reticent; but their feeling in tho matter would astonish Mr Nicholls and his friends it given publicity. In support of his contention that you mis-, staten facts lie mentions tho namosof several gentlemen (" influential citizens," I think he calls-them) from whom 110 received valuablo information. Now, Sir, if it was hw desiro to gather information from a prohibition point of view solely 110 could not lia.vo mado a hotter selection—viz., Revs. Tenncnt and Thomas, Captain Hodge, Messrs A. Thomson, W. Gibb, W. Campbell, jun., G. L. Asher, Isbistcr, etc, Not 0110 of tho above has any connection or relationship with business in Port Chalmers; in fact,-most of them have nico snug little billets, and it is immaterial to them whether tho shopkeepors aro insolvent or not: their own salaries aro forthcoming. Further, I woidd ask any reasonablo person hero to say if any of theso gentlemen coidd givo an unbiassed or just opinion 011 the subject. All aro rabid and pronounced prohibitionists,- and statements mado by somo of them aro always treated 1 with'aigroat amount of reservation by Port folk, for they, as Mr Nicholls says, are well known.

A great deal is attempted to bo: made of large etcamers going to Dunedin, and slackness generally through tho Union Steam Ship Company's ■ steamers going elsbwhero for repairs; but I think it will be found on inquiry that .there liavo been as many steamers under repair this winter as in any previous year. I will instance tho, Mouowai, Mokoia, Waikare, Moana, Moeraki, etc., 'to say nothing of a good proportion of the cargo boats and colliers. Tho list of largo ocean steamersjthat havo visited Port Chalmers lately appcaraito mo as equal if not larger than at any other time for years past. The depression cannot in any sense be attributed to these causes. .

Probably tho following, culled from tlia railway official returns, will explain in a slight degree tho causes of suoli stagnation in tho shopkeepers' business Passengers booked at Port Chalmers to 'Dunedin:. For year ending March 31, 1903—Ordinary, 85,642; season, 3E54. For year ending March 31, 1904- (nine months only which were under no-licEiise)— Ordinary, 96,263; season, 4578,--an increase of .10,625 ordinary and 72*1 season; a total increase of 11,349. This from a town of 2500 inhabitants, and if Carey's Bay and Lower Harbour be included, not exceeding 3000, of whom fully one-half aro children who do not travel, speaks volumes. (Of course, there are tho tickets purchased by steamboat people to be deducted from this total, hut the number is insignificant in comparison) This exodus from Port goes on steadily week alter week.

Contrast'tho a-ppearanco of our streets now with 18 mouths ago, especially on Saturday evenings, and tho. result will satisfy tho most sceptical that things aro not quite so rosy from ft business outlook as a' few of tho shopkeepers with prohibitionist tendencies endeavour to make out. If their business is as good as formerly, appearances certainly bclio it.

Sir, I can verify your statement, as 1 have iiad conversations with most of thoso .mentioned in your report, and in no single instance have they expressed anything to tho- contrary. Their expressions were accentuated, but then I was not a prohibi-tion-reporter. Regarding Mr Ashor's contribution to Mr Nicholls's letter,, it may bo correct, but ho docs not givo any reason for ■ this wonderful improvement in the morals of the sailors and firemen on Homo ships, leaving the public to infer that

owing to no lieense being in voguo liquor is not procurable. Now, Sir, in conversation with the master of one of our regular traders, and in a company with which Mr Asher -is associated, the question, of no.license cropped up. Tho captain, whilst opposed to a seaport town being without licenses, mentioned that ho had not so much troublo with his crew as on previous visits. On putting the question to him as to the amount of money ho gavo his men this trip, ho replied, "None." This answer will probably apply to somo 'of Air Ashor's cases.

. I suppose wo must accept Mr W. Campbell's statement <13 correct, he being lodgo deputy 1.0. G.T., but I am afraid liis par.tiality for tho 11.30 train, or "drunks' express," as ho terms it, docs not redound much to his credit, unles3 it is ho is desirous of reforming his companions, i know most pcoplo with any self-respect oomo down by an earlier train on Saturdays.—l am, etc., Observer. Port Chalmers, September 12,