THE LICENSING BILL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11003, 25 July 1914, Page 5

THE LICENSING BILL.

(To the Editor.) SIR, —The Hon. Mr Massey,, in introducing his Licensing Bill the other night, made the astounding statement that No-liceuse does not diminish drunkenness. The statement won’t b-ar analysis, and is utterly contrary to fact. The idea tha< the diminution of puhlichouses does not- diminish drunkenness is the most absurd idea ever entertained by politicians or people. Washington Irving made a well known character sleep for twenty years, and one is forced to the con elusion that some of nur legislators have slept for a much longer period. I - have known the city of Liverpool fer more than forty years, and can well remember the time, when Mr Walker, a noted brewer, was its king. It became famous throughout; the world for its drunkenness, and was known as “The Black Spot on the Mersey.” A marvellous change was wrought in a few years by a Catholic priest and a Methodist minister —Father Nugent and Chas. Garrett. I was in Lverpool for the last time in 1890, and tire change was apparent to all. The population has increased since 1890 by more than 80,COO, but during th£t time it has reduced it's puhlichouses by 8-15, with the that its Police Court drunkenness cases have fallen from 16,000 to 4180. It has been able to dispense with the services of 100 policemen, and the rates are annually saved the sum of £BOOO. The city has been blessed with not only a vigilant watch committee, but an excellent chief constable. But, why go to England for examples, when we can find them at our own doors. I don’t hesitate to affirm that No-license not only reduces drunkenness, but what is more important, it reduces crime. _ The eight electorates in the Dominion which enjoj 7 the of No-lioensa contain a population of 101,734, according to, the census. The total convictions for drunkenness in the Magistrate’s Courts in the year 1913 were 413. Gisborne contains a population of 14,023, and the convictions tor duukenness were 404. It simply means that a small district like Gisborne bad only 9 less convictions for drunkenness than the eight electorates at present enjoying the priceless boon of Nolicense. Our neighbouring town of Taihape with a population of only 1577 inhabitants, had no less than 286 convictions for drunkenness. In the face of such facts, it is a mystery to me how any sane man can affirm that No-license does not reduce drunkenness. —I am, etc., J. J. MATHER.