Page 3 Advertisements Column 3

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12398, 13 November 1908, Page 3

THE CASE W Wa Ll'Ubl^wSiU . 81.0 i iLfLo* - TO THE ELECTORS. •- "■ ■"';-.■■-■ ■ -- ■ (■■ - : ';. ■ ' . :■:- • ■ ■ ■■■■ With regard to the Local Poll on Tuesday Next, we appeal to your sense of justice and fair dealing 1 , which, we believe still exists in all British communities, and ask for a fair consideration of our case, not based on the eloquence of a paid lecturer, minister, or otherwise, but on absolute facts and cpmroon senses Theiefore,;Ave ask you to think the question out, and to separate the main and vital issues from the exaggerations made by persons whose business is to mamifacture exaggerations. -I.ls it fair that. we should have our business confiscated because a few persons abuse a privilege? v 2. Is such confiscation likely to prevent, such abuses ? . 3. We would draw an analogy between the. abolition of licensed control of hotels and the operation of clause 29 of the Summary Jurisdiction Actv 1894, providing for the suppression of the recognition of a social evil. Af Auckland on Wednesday a Press Association telegram said yesterday, the Grand Jury inade-a presentment, viewing with horror and concern the continued increase of criminal assaults on yOung children, and urging most drastic forms of pimishment to offenders. -The Judge deplored the. increase_in such; cases, and expressed the wish that, the duty, of dealing" with theni "fell -on other than the Judges of the Supreme Court. • Read the Auckland Grand Jury's Resolution appearing yesterday. Now, the increase of the crime referred to is largely traceable to the attempt of the State to ignore the existence of a social eVil, which as an evil cannot be abolished. Similarly, while admitting' that immoderate drinking is a social evil its evils are held. in check by license and regulation, while they would be uncontrolled and bear graver consequences if carried on in secret. 4. iThat a well conducted hotel, under proper licensed supervision, is not only the greatest convenience in a town, but also a safe-. guard against the evils of uninspected liquor and the illicit sale of bad liquor. " . 5. That in justice, and fairness, and for the wisest expediency, we appeal to the Electors^ to -^ ■'.'"■* Vole for Continuance. .HENRY BASCENT, H, SAUNDERS, ' '„'-."■ Representing Nelson Hdtelkeepers. THE fW-SUCCESS OF JUDSED BY ACI UAL RESULTS> ■•;■. .v_■ _■ :o: — ._■"■■• ■ ■■'■{ The No License Hand-Book is responsible for the statement, that the returns of the Ashburton Police Court furnish an xmanswerable argument in favour of No License. In the same work it is further stated thatvthe growth of the town since 1902 has been, stead " and uninterrupted/ 1 and that Ashburton is in as sound a position commercially to-day as at any period in its history. How farJfromthe real truth these statements are will.be apparent, from a comparison of .1902; — the last complete year of license — with last year.-.'. y - -'/ ; --v ;- -;• - ■:■.'■ '':...' ""' ':.'." .•'■.' : CRIRSEIN ASHSURTON. In 1902 the total charges laid in the Police' Court numbered 309 ; last year they had increased to 316. 1n 1902 the offences relating to liquer were 93 ; in 1907 they numbered 103, made up as follows : Drunkenness .../...../... .:. ... 44 Selling liquor without a li«ense ;....,. 22 - Proliibited persons procuring liquor 5 Disorderly conduct while drunk ... ... 1 Keeping liquor for sale ...... ... 4 Failing to notafy vendor under Licensing Act 2 Failing to notify Clerk of -Court '^ ... 6 Failing to label package of liquor ... 4 Failing to give name and address when ordering liquor ■-....■-..■'... ..\ 3 Procuring liquor for prohibited person 3 Found in premises when sly-grog searchwarrant executed ...... 9 Total ■ c ■. r: ■■""■■.. :'"■■ •-.,- : ; .'-■...■- '.:-'-: 'D" i- Thus! the only unanswerable argument that Ashburtbn can furnish in favour of No License is an increasein crime and in offences relating' to tliinls. " ■■"-■-_■' ■- ''...[ THE PROSPERITY OF THE TOWN. In the five. years since No License the population of Ashburton has increased from 2500 to 2563, which. of itself is eloquent testimony to the .utter stagnation of the town. Business is very bad, over 40 establishments having changed hands since 1903, and fully a dozen businesses are now in -the market. At least six prominent prohibitionist tradesmen have shown themselves so satisfied with business under the regime they advocated that they have removed themselves and their businesses to places where licenses exist. •No Jess than 11 shops have been burnt out- in the last 18 months, and the town is so prosperous that in many cases no effort has been made to rebuild. The debts sued for in the Magistrate's Court have increased in amount from_£3lls in 1902 to £4633 in 1907, an. increase of 49 per cent., which disposes of the frequently expressed opinion that people pay their debts better \mder No License. It is said that a large proportion of business people are satisfied, but actions speak louder than words, and at the Courthouse polling-booth, in tjhe centre of the business population, the votes cast in 1905 were : — - • ' FOR RESTORATION ..." 618 AGAINST RESTORATION 335 MAJORITY FOR RESTORATION 283 ' \ QUESTION FOR TEf/PERANCE REFORMERS It is evident that, judged by the very test proposed by the Prohibitionists themselves, No License is a failure in Ashburtbn. There is'no decrease in crime, as shown by the Police Court records ;on the contrary there is a slight increase. Instead of increased prosperity*, so lavishly promised, we find complete stagna- . tion. Instead of business people enlarging their premises, we find them falling over each other in their hurry to escape from the town. Instead of the workers having a plentiful sxipply of cash, we find small debts harder than ever to collect. On the top of all these failures, we have the horrors 'of sly-grog, with its train of ruined hojmes. - ■ - v In the face of all these facts, is it not time for those temperance .reformer? who believe in coercion as, a remedy, to ask themselves whether these results are hi spite of, or because of, the law they defend? ; "

Wool ! Wool ! ! Season 1908-1909. ■ Tf^HE "Dndersigued a^e now prepared to I receive Cossignments ofj§ . Wool and Skins for the London Market, and will mak liberal advances on same. The' S S. " Paparoa," leaving Wellington on the lfth November., is timed to catch the January Wool Sales. [WELLINGTON SALES? Should Clieutß wish to try the Welling ton Sales, ne have made ccroplete airangpments to effer eatce en their b°ha]f E. BUXTCN & CO., Ltd. (4237

The Wellington Piano Co., Limited. NEW SHOW EOOMS (Opposite Old Post Office),. TEAFALGAE-STEEET-PIANOS by Challen & Son PIANOS by BJnthner PIANOS tyPleyel" PIANOS by tfilher & Co.§ PIANOS by Nenfeld Pianos from £30, New Instruments, i Pianos from 20s Month. BIG SilE KOW ON At Our Show Booms. ' , . TBIETY Pianos to select from. East Teems. Best allowance for old instruments taken in exchange. •> - A. H. LIGHT, ' ! 3453 ■ Locnl*Manager.