TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8053, 10 November 1906, Page 1

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

[This column is paid for as an advertisement ] The Liquor Problem. No-License in Invere rgill. Hie following appeared in the Southland Daily JS ; evV;) u f () c!u | Jt , r Sili, 11106. 'llns is an luvercargiil daily paper : " H has been claimed for NoLicense that when its effects are Mi it wi»l b« fund that iliere will be h j sx bad debts in busiuess, and though ii is too early yet to appraise the reform ht its true value from this point of view, several shopkeepers iu luvercargiil h»ve experienced pleasant surprises. For one instance, an amount of £\ had been owing for nearly five years, and had bet-n struck off the ledger for some two \ears, there beiug no expectation of its payment, but the other day the debtor entered 'he shop, and, after apologising for his diiatoriuess, paid the long deferred debt, with the explanation that the improved position was due to the closing of bars. Other cases of a similar nature are on record, and it is stated that there is a greater cash trade now done in luvercargiil than ever before." This | entirely confirms the results of the inquiries I made in luvercargiil some weeks ago. Mr J. S. Baxter writes me:"From inquiry and personal observation, I am of opinion that No-License in luvercargiil is in every way an unqualified success.'' To those who know Air Baxter and his scrupulous accuracy of statement, such a pronouncement carries tremeudous weight, and should increase the enthusiasm with which we push the battle to the gate. City Improvements. The Southland Daily Nfws of September 3rd says " Messrs Mc. Kay Bros, have decided to erect a i wo-story brick building in Don-street mainly for the occupation of Messrs Wm. Martin and Co., agents for the New Zealand Carrying Company." Tb' j follows a full description of the building, showing that it will include two shops on the ground floor, etc. Alterations and extensions of Mr J as. Manson's (ironmonger) premises in lay Street are also going forward, which will result in double the accommodation at present available. A wool store is about to be erected for Messrs J. Mills and Co. in Spey Street, which will have a floor area of 60fc by 65ft. Extensive alterations to Messrs W. Lewis and Co.'s premises are in progress, which will bring the establishment right iu line with modern requirements. The whole frontage of their large brick warehouse is being remodelled, and a large iron and glass verandah will be erected, This is one of the leading drapery firms. The Southland Times, the other luvercargiil paper which has always been against No-License, says on October 10th:—"On all sides business men are increasing the accommodation at their command, improving the appearance of their front, ages, and extendingtheir conveniences for displaying and handling stock," Three instances are then given of local tradesmen who have either extended their own premises or moved into larger ones more suitable to their growing businesses. The above instances, taken in conjunction with the already published statements re the great activity in the building trades 1 in Ashburtoo, Oamaru, and Inver- ■ cargill, show couclusively that far from hurting a place, the absence of ''License" is in every way beneficial. Labour Journal Trade Report. To judge from the reports given in the Labour Journal of September the Oth as to the luvercargiil labour market-, No License has evidently not yet worked the ruin in that town that its opponents so coufidently predicted. We give an extract below : The building trade is busy in al 1 branches. Sash, door and joinery factories are fairly busy, and all hands working full time. Plumbers, gasfitters, and tinsmiths are all busy Furniture trade : All hands fully employed. Bush sawmills. Improved since last report. Iron trades; Engineering is fairly busy ; there are no tradesmen out of work. AgricuU tural implement makers are busv, and likely to continue so for some time. Orders are coming in freely. Kange and grate makers busy. Coach, carriage, and waggon building. These trades are busy. Orders continue to come in freely, and the hands are all fully employed. Saddle and harness makers, though not busy, are all working full time. Tailoring is fairly busy aiul with few exceptions the handa are fully employed." A Hypocritical Transaction. The following shows two things very plainly who cry "Ruined by No-License;" and 2, the advance of land values in luvercargiil: ' Ex-Publican had just bought a property shortly after the licenses were taken away. A few days after he met a fellow-citizen, and of course they fell to talking about No-License. The Publican avowed that the place was ruined, things would go to the dogs, and in six mouths' time the grass would be growing iu the streets, etc., etc., and so on. The citizen finished up by saying, " Air ! well, we will see how things t urn out, " and continuing, said, "by the way, what do you want for that property you bought the other day ?" " £950," answered the publican, which was more than he had given for it. The citizen was very anxious to secure this particular property, and after making the necessary financial arrangements, went back so the publican and said he wou!d take it at his own price, viz., j The reply to that wa«, 11 1

won i sell it for that now : the price | is £ 1,050," a hundred pounds advance, llie would-be bu.er i einonstrated, and said he thought it was unfair, and was relying un getting it at £!)00. Ihe publican j miitily remarked, "Tint was a lew d«\s ago, 1 >ut the pruper y has gone up a hundred pounds -inctlien. ihe ui ■ ;i t -pointed bunr spoke very plainly m that s;«i■ 1 genteman, and told hiin "not to play 11,e humbug and li puerile any m ire by talking in nne iireath of everything going to the dog- 1 , and then prove in -lie in '-r ell.-c in; w■<v possible that tiU-iness was ex renii li go "i, bv demanding su.li l.tg prices tor his p> - pet i>, hh.l i xpec. lug to make a profit oi £2.10 merely tiy holding the sec ion for a week or two. It he heln ved in the least in his statement about Invercargill "going to the dog-," he would not have bought at ail after No License came in, in the first place, and in the second place, if lie had b-en so ra-h h-' would hive seized the first opportunity to sell at a profit • His actions belied his words.