THE “SUCCESS” OF NO-LICENSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 10 November 1910, Page 22

THE “SUCCESS” OF NO-LICENSE.

RUIN AND DESOLATION. Writing to “Sydney Morning Herald’’- from Wellington, N.Z., under date August 24. Mr. James Farquhar, a visitor to the Dominion, drew a vivid picture, not only of the failure of No-License, but of its disastrous effects on the welfare of the districts under the blot; He said: — “Being on a .visit, to- this* country (New Zealand) iV'has' been’my lot to have to stay in three prohibited districts, namely,Wai'hi, . Masterton, and Invercargill. I may mention that these three districts; having carried prohibition all the hotels, have been closed and sly-grog is rampant,. * You cannot get a decent meal, at any of these towns now, as you have to pay exorbitant prices for , meals, and are then only treated to hash. In the town of Masterton I was; charged 3s for an ordinary meal that I can procure in any ‘continuance’ town in a decent licensed hotel for Is. I have seen more drunkenness in the town of Masterton than in any other town where,there ; are licenses. In licensed towns all the hotels are conducted well, but in the prohibition towns there is nothing‘but deceit, sly grog, etc.,, going on all the tipie. Jf you approach a shopkeeper in any of the prohibition towns- and ask him how prohibition is progressing he will tell you ‘splendid.; good success, etc.’ The shopkeeper thinks that you are probably a buyer for his business, so he is on the move trying to sell out his fast-declining business. “Masterton. has dozens ‘ of empty houses. Shops in the main streets are empty, and there is a desolate, woebegone appearance. Any travellers get their business done as soon as possible, and then move on to the next licensed town, where they can get a meal and good accommodation in peace, and an open drink and no sly grog. “There is no doubt that sly-grog selling is rife, and the people seem to have a craving for filling themselves with liquor under prohibition control. This has opened my eyes, and I would like to inform the public of Australia of the absolute failure of prohibition. “A lot of parsons here say it is a great success, but they are not to be taken seriously, as it is part of their living, and their opinion is not worth twopence. “There are now four new beautiful brick hotels in Masterton closed up, earning nothing. The doors and windows are closed, and the entrances are now covered with cobwebs. The owners of these fine buildings have been ruined by prohibition, as these new brick buildings were erected by the instructions of the Licensing Bench, who, I learn, compelled the owners to submit the architect’s plans before passing same, demanding all sorts of improvements. Next thing they sweep the lot away. “Some of these buildings are splendidly laid out, clean, bright, brick

hotels, that were luxuriantly furnished. You could get the very highest accommodation, the best or food, and pure liquors. According to the licensing laws in this country everything had to be kept in the highest state of perfection. “I have been in inland- towns 4-n Australia, and have been paralysed to see how far behind the times the Australians are compared to the way the New Zealanders conduct , hotels. ‘‘The best .of sanitary arrangements are in the Masterton. hotels, and they are built on the mosh extensive scale; yet we find by the stroke of a peri- by a lot of irresponsible voters, who act through jealousy or some other ' miserable motive, the whole lot 'are wiped out. “My last -word to you : is that prohibition is a fraud, and leads to deceit and fraud generally.”