NO-LICENSE IN OAMARU.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 12984, 27 January 1910, Page 2

NO-LICENSE IN OAMARU.

A correspondent forwards the following;—

Two Wanganui citizens who have just returned from a visit to Oamarn were not very impressed with No-license as they saw it in that town. Arriving there by train from Christchurch, they were at once struck by the number of drunken men hanging about the station. Naturally, alter all they had read of the benefits ot No-license they could not understand how these persons were able to- obtain such a quantity of drink. They were, however, soon enlightened on that subject, for when booking rooms at a boarding bouse the proprietor asked their names, and requested them to sign a form to obtain liquor. After having unpacked their things they came downstairs, to find two bottles of whisky, with their names on the labels. During the afternoon they visited a sports meeting, and whilst on the ground were several times accosted by “droppers,” men who act as walking hotels, having a flask in each hip-pocket, and who supply whisky at Is per glass. Another thing which surprised them was the- number of very young men that were seen drunk about the streets. Young men questioned on the subject state that 0 they spend more on drink than when the hotel's were open, as they club in for a supply of drink for the “batch” or boardinghouse, which is generally consumed before its alloted time, so that more cash is required to renew the supply. At each private house that they visited drink was produced as soon as they entered, and when questioned re No-license, the person questioned only smiled, and pointed to the bottle. One woman who voted Nolicsnse because her.husband spent his evenings in the hotels, said: “When the hotels were here he was always home about ten, because they cicscd at that hour; now lie gets home at 12 and even at 2 a.m., as the sly-grog shops never close while there is money to be taken. A hairdresser and draper, questioned as to trade, statedthat it had never been as good since No-license was carried as it was before, and they hoped to see Restoration carried next election. Asked how it was that just before each election the tradespeople signed a testimonial as to the success of No-license, they said that it was generally taken round by a minister or some leading church member, and the people were told that unless they signed it they were actually assisting drunkenness, and that it was their duty to sign; and they added that when a few names arc on the paper the rest follow like sheep. The two Wanganui-ites met a prominent Sunday School teacher from this city, also on a holiday in Oamarn, and he was reluctantly compelled to admit that he had seen far more drunkenness in Oamarn under No-license than he had ever witnessed in Wanganui,