A QUAINT COMPLAINT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9254, 5 June 1908, Page 3

A QUAINT COMPLAINT.

LICENSE v. NO-LICENSE. [From Our Correspondent.] WAIMATE, June 5. A deputation of women brought an unusual request before the Prime Minister to-day. Tho Waimate temperance organisations agreed to pay the railway advertising contractor for space on five stations in the district, and displayed tho following announcement in bold letters. "Half the crime disappears in New Zealand electorates during the first year of no-licence." The contractor removed the notices a month later, because complaints were made of the wording. It leaked out, it was stated by the deputation, that tha contractor had been threatened by tho liquor interests. The temperance people threatened legal proceedings, and the notices were replaced. Later they were removed again. The deputation asked whether it was the desire of the Government that the liquor party should have a monopoly of railway advertising, and suggested that, in view of unfair discrimination made, the contract should bo determined. Sir Joseph Ward said that the railway contractor should not exercise unfair discrimination. He would be surprised to find the contractor removing any notice at the. instigation of a particular organisation. The Government did not want the contractor to take sidos in matters of that kind. The matter would be the subject of careful inquiry.