NO-LICENSE IN INVERCARGILL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13636, 15 April 1908, Page 3

NO-LICENSE IN INVERCARGILL.

(To the Editor.) • Sir, — In a former letter, referring to above, I submitted that the only true test of its success would be the amount of liquor consumed befqreand after its inception. I am now in a position to give this information. Customs duties on imported liquor collected^, j during last complete year of licens#'(l9os), £25,562; duties* collected during first complete year under no-license (1907), £25,274 14s 8d; excise' duty on beer (1905), £U47,145.4d; excise, duty on beer (1907), £1897 10s. The combined figures show an increased duty under no-license of £162 •3s 2d. In other words; a consumption of about 32,000 gallons of spirits and 152,000 gallons of beer. Truly" a remarkable record for a so-called dry town. Nor dqes this give the total consumption, as k large amount of duty is paid in- Dunedin. Now, according to the law of averages the amount of drunkenness must be in .proportion to 'the- amount of intoxicants consumed, and ,if the, slightest reliance is to be placed upon the statements of the. Mayor of InvercargiU. and others who , support him, they are bound, in honour, to prove why this law of averages is inoperative in- this particular case.' We are all anxious to find a remedy -for excessive, drinking; but it doe 3 ap'po'ar incomprehensible that the no-lic ( ense party are in ignorance of the above facts, or that, knowing them, thoy can be< blind to their significance. In any caso, the query the quoted rqturns* propound demands a straight-out reply* no equivocations, Or side issues intervening, if logical 1 minds arc 3iotito regard the whole thing as an utter" failure. T. banking you in anticipation,-—! am, otc'v,