THE PROGRESS LEAGUE AND RESTORATION

Southland Times, Issue 23540, 21 June 1938, Page 4

THE PROGRESS LEAGUE AND RESTORATION

To The Editor

Sir, —If history be true, it was by the powerful aid of The Southland Times that Invercargill carried prohibition. Be that as it may, it has many times since endorsed the policy of prohibition, and partly by the influence of The Southland Times, that, and many other measures have made Invercargill one of the cleanest, most progressive, and modem cities in. New Zealand. So that it was with some surprise and indignation that I read your sub-leader. I have travelled practically all over New Zealand and believe the hotels of Invercargill to be as good as the district warrants, nor would they be any better if there was a licensed bar in one corner of them. There are as many first-class hotels as are required to cater for wealthy tourists and residents. No doubt when business warrants it, there is sufficient local enterprise to provide big expensive hotels, but the supply of “grog” is not going to be the deciding factor. The part of your leader that hurts most is where you seem to advocate a breach of agreement. Later on you suggest that probably restoration will be carried next November by a three-fifths majority. Well, why not wait until then instead of disgracing us all by breaking an agreement. Although I am not in touch with, nor have any right to speak for, the prohibition party, I feel sure they will resent your advice given under such circumstances. There has now grown up a generation of young people who do not know the conditions that existed here before prohibition was carried, so it only remains for vested interests to

keep the other side of the picture before them and the job is done. Then all the corner buildings that have been built or held in readiness all these years will reopen, and the same old sights about the streets and in the homes will be re-enacted. Most of these are foreign to Invercargill at the present time. The Progress League would be well advised to carry on its good work and leave a subject like this severely alone. Nor does the league need telling that restoration and progress are synonymous terms, the editor of The Southland Tinies notwithstanding. With plenty of easy money about just now, it should be a good chance for the licensed spirit merchants, brewers and would-be hotel keepers to press their point with the aid of thirsty ones. Should they succeed, then the rest of us, will do our best to keep our boys and girls at home. The most hopeful feature about your article, is that you do not expect the Government to agree. It is a fortunate country that has a Government which honours its pledges, and those of its predecessors. . Finally, you have repeatedly stated in your columns that business men have classed Invercargill as one of the soundest business places in New Zealand. As private individuals we resent patronage and condescension; how much more so qs a community. Let those who do not like it stay away.—Yours, etc., PATERFAMILIAS.

June 18, 1938. [Our reference to the existing laws being “weighted” against restoration was not intended to imply approval of an alteration of the law regarding the three-fifths majority.—Editor, Ine Southland Times.]

To The Editor

Sir,—As lam a recent arrival in Invercargill, I would like to hear the pros and cons of the restoration issue. As your paper seems to regard the question of considerable importance, will you please allow Mr W. Kennedy space to set out the benefits accruing from no-licence, which I understand means the sale of quantities of liquor of not less than two gallons for consumption solely in the homes of the people by young 'and old, with police having no control at all once the liquor is in the town. To me, it seems a queer law and I shall be glad to hear both sides of the question. Since I arrived in Invercargill 12 months ago, I have seen more drunk .men than I did in five years in Dunedin and it would appear that the words ‘nolicence” did not have the meaning that I thought they had before I arrived here.—Yours, etc., NEWCOMER. June 20, 1938.