NO-LICENCE IN INVERCARGILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 27

NO-LICENCE IN INVERCARGILL.

THE LOCKER SYSTEM CONDEMNED. (Fbom Our Own Cohbespondent.) WELLINGTON, July 8. In the course of his report on the Invercargill district Inspector Mitchell says: — '' No-license obtained in the Invercargill i licensing district on July 1 last, conse1 quent upon which — • I (a) Brewery depots were established at Waikiwi, on the margin of the no-license area, at which youths and men purchase beer in 2gaA and sgal keg's, oftentimes when not in a fit state to be supplied. It is by no means an uncommon sight to see a number of young fellows collected round a keg 1 on the roadside or in an adjoining paddock, come of them showing signs of excessive drinking, and yet tho police are helpless to control such sales, the vendors being subjected to no restrictions. (b) The locker system came into existence at four establishments here. This system as carried on is. I think, an undoubted evasion of tho law. The closing of the open bar has materially improved the order and conduct in the streets, and, to my own knowledge, many homes that formerly knew misery through its existence now enjoy happiness and contentment. At the seme timo the consumption of liquor in Southland, as shown in the Customs return, has not decreased. During the nine months ended March 31 last 78 oases of drunkenness were before the Invercargill Court, and in all cases but one the supply of liquor was conclusively traced, to sources outside the no-license area — Bluff, by rail, 17 miles ; Woodlands, by rail, 12 miles; Wallacetown, by road or rail, five miles; and the Waikiwi depots, by road, three miles. So that it will be readily seen the facilities for obtaining liquor are numerous, and prevent no-license receiving a fair trial. During the same period five convictions have ber-n recorded here for sly grogeelling. resulting in fines totalling £250, and although we ha\o a. population of over » 13.QQH ib.pre is no reason to behc\e that

illicit sales of liquor are at present being carried on to any appreciable extent.