TEMPERANCE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12908, 23 February 1906, Page 7

TEMPERANCE IN NEW ZEALAND.

INTERVIEW WITH FATHER HAYS. The Rev. Father Hays, who recently concluded a temperance crusade in Xew Zealand, was asked in Melbourne ti> s:vy isometliing of the progress of the movement in .that colony!' A*ked what lis considered the true solution of the drink problem in New Zealand, he said :—"Moral suasion and the formation of a healthy public opinion must be the foundation of the work. Then, so far as legislative action is concerned, it is distinctly, the duty ci a Government to give people in this democratic age the power to settle such an important" problem, and o::e bearing t.-o directly upon their very best ioeial and moral interests. It has always be;n my view that no body <>t men or c-eminittee should have the power of 1 forcing hotels upon a district against the. wishes of its people." Tlie statement of the president of the Licensed Victuallers' Association (Mr C. A. Champion), at Ballaiat recently, to the effect that extensive orders for "two-gallon jars were being executed in Staffordshire f'.r supplying prohibition districts in New Zealand with beer, was brought under the notice of Father Hays. "You wish to know," he said. " whether ' no-license' | really promotes 'temperance. I believe {irmly that in a district where ' no-license' has been recently carried the law will certainly be broken by some people. There is sure to be the illicit sale of liquor, but that is not the fault of the law, but the result of its non-enforcement. But, although a number of people who are habitual diiukers may obtain drink, the closing of the temptations at the corners of every street removes a grave peril from the way of the rising generation. From my personal observation. I should say that in New Zealand the law is verV honestly enforced. There may be some violations without the knowledge of the authorities, but there is not nearlv so much sly grog-selling as is alleged by the liquor party. 'No-license' means a* tremendous reduction in the liquor-drinking in a- distort. In the ten years before 'no-license' was carried in the Balclutha- district there were 231 convictions for drunkenness. In the first ten years after it was carried there_ were 61, showing a decrease of 170. notwithstanding the increase of population. I went to New Zealand with an open mindon this subject of the drink question, and I visited the 'no-license' districts for the purpose of learning the truth. I have come to the conclusion that no-license ' h a very great blessing to a district, because it- removes the open bar. which is a glaring temptation. I do not like the system? oi closing hotels in one part- of a "town and leaving them open in others, as that only diverts the traffic from one part to another. I should like to see. the effect of ' no-license' in a. large area where temptation is removed from the boundaries of no-license' districts."