LICENSE OR NO-LICENSE?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9044, 10 March 1908, Page 5

LICENSE OR NO-LICENSE?

THE COMING CONTEST.

WHAT THE "NO-LICENSE" PARTY INTEND DOING. PROSPECTS OF A STRENUOUS FIGHT.

In the comparatively short space of some nine months from how the dominion will be in the throes of its triennial battle over the question of "license, less license, or no-license?" So far no outward signs are visible of any, preparation by either side for the conflict, but. judging by «ome remarks which fell from the lips of two well-known local advocates of no-license, yesterday, in conversation with a "Wairarapa Age" reporter, there is going to be a titanic struggle for supremacy between the liquor party and the no-license advocates in the Masterton electorate this year. "The President of the local branch of the New Zealand Alliance is absent from Masterton just now," said one. of the advocates interviewed, "but on his return—in the course of a few days—the campaign for no-license is to be commenced in earnest. A meeting of the members of and sypmathisers with the cause will be called, and a definite plan of action arranged upon without delay." "And what do you think of the prosnects?" was asked. "We have stronger anticipations than ever we had before that 'nolicense' will be carried in Masterton electorate. The success of our party in Masterton itself last election, where there was a substantial three-fifths majority in favour of no-license, is expected to be equalled this year, if not excelled. We somehow feel that there is no special reason why our large army of town supporters should change their views— in fact, rather the opposite; while in several of the larger country centres, where 'continuance' was carried, we confidently believe that a great surprise will be in store for the liquor N party next election. At Ekelahuna, for instance, where there was an absolute majority in favour of continunce in 1905, we believe 'no-license' will be carried this year, and we have good reason for so believing. THE FIGHTING FUND—UNLIMITED CAPITAL. "What special steps we will take to combat the license advocates will be a question of detail to be decided upon at the meeting to be called shortly, but I can say this now that we have already a subscantial sum in hand towards our fighting fund, while practically unlimited capita! is at our command. It is not money, in fact, that will prevent us putting up the most strenuous fight ever known in the history of local option elections, so far as Masterton is concerned. Our chief difficulty may be workers. What we desire to do is to procure the services of

A FIRST-CLASS ORGANISER and place at his command all the assistance he requires. Last election year we had a magnificent organiser and worker in Mr J. Bridges, and it was a ..very great pity he was not retained permanently in the district to keep the nolicense movement in the foreground. Several of our party wished this to be done, but it was vetoed on the ground of expense. Now lam afraid we cannot secure him, and we shall have to cast around for another organiser.

SYSTEMATIC METHODS

"The no-license party recognise fully that it was the systematic methods of their opponents that carried the day in Masterton electorate if not elsewhere. There is no doubt that house-to-house canvassing was largely responsible for the liquor party securing a lot of votes it might not otherwise have done, and we were behind-hand in this respect. Mr Bridges worked energetically to secure thß enrolment of sympathisers, and to show how important that branch of the campaign was I may mention that in one day he discovered that twenty-eight avowed supporters of no-license were not on the roll, and would not have been on but for his discovery of the fact. CANVASSING TO BE STARTED FORTHWITH.

"We have not any too much time to conduct a house to house canvass now, and there is such a large extent of ground to be covered in connection with the campaign that we shall forthwith open fire in all practicable directions, and we propose to invoke the aid of the local Y.M.C.A. sympathisers, and have as many lecturers out in the field as possible. Whenever we can secure the services of a prominent fighter for the cause, if only temporarily, we shall do so

ALTERED BOUNDARIES NO SERIOUS OBSTACLE.

"Do you think the alteration of the electoral boundaries will affect the election issue so far as you are concerned?" asked the pressman.

"We certainly lose a number of valuable supporters on the Upper Plain and Fernridge, but we are hopeful that so far as our district is concerned in other directions no material change has been made. We expect to gain voters in several localities where last year there was a leaning towards our opponents, and little significance attaches to the alteration of ths electoral boundaries so far as we are concerned." LICENSING PARTY'S CHANCES. The other champion of no-license interviewed was equally optimistic over the prospects of his party. "I have heard." he said, "that the Licensed Victuallers' Association are going to make the battle so hot in Masterton electorate this election that they hope to lift the district right out of danger. I remarked to the person who informed me of this reassuring fact that I did not see how they were going to accomplish this without votes, and I cannot, either. However, we are going to make them fight for it, and no stone will be left unturned by the no-license party to bring about a result that will be

AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE, perhaps, to our opponents." "You seem pretty confident," was observed.

"I am, for I feel, and our party feels,that it is only a matter of putting the question in the right light to electors, and our success is assured. We feel that we are on an excellent

wicket, and should put up a great score. Since last election many incidents have occurred —some trivial enough, perhaps, individually, but collectively of serious moment — which must cause a revulsion in favour of no-license. There is no reason to refer to these —watchful eyes have noted facts within our very electorate which will, if brought home to electors sound, the death knell of drink in our district.

A JUSTIFIABLE EXPERIMENT. "Apart, however, from special causes which may operate particularly in favour of the no-license party at next election, we feel that it would be an experiment the district would be amply justified in trying. There i 3 no need to dwell upon the social benefit which must accrue from the abolition of the liquor bar, while from a commercial standpoint arguments are all in favour of no-license. The annual drain on the resources of our country towns and townships to swell the already inflated pockets of outsiders is in itself a powerful economic sidelight on the traffic, and it is a point we shall not torget to drive home pretty forcibly when the time arrives to do so. We are also buoyed up by the knowledge that the environments of our electorate are peculiarly favourable to the successful observance of no-license laws if no license is carried. Our centres of population (which alone stand to lose by any change i.-. the licensing laws) are so situated that the centres in neighbouring electorates are sufficiently far away to prevent the just raising of the argument that a great volume of money would find it 3 way into the hotels of licensed houses, in the adjoining electorates —that is, provided continuance is carried in these latter electorates. This . has been the trouble in places where no-license has been carried —as in Newtown (Wellington), and probably elsewhere. It is very unlikely, however, that if no-license is carried in Masterton electorate Eketahuna will find that Pahiatua, fifteen miles away, will profit to any appreciable extent by the change, or Carterton will benefit at Masterton's expense. We can safely answer those who may confront "us with this proposition that the thousands of pounds which will be saved the district in other respects as a result of the carrying of no-license will amply compensate for any small pecuniary loss which may arise through people going outside of the electorate to purchase liquor. OUT FOR A FIGHT. "In conclusion, I can state again that we are out for a fight, and for such a fight as will, we hops, be beyond the enduring powers of our opponents, and—we are more than confident of success!"