THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1611, 25 November 1905, Page 3

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

MR W. DOUGLAS LYSNAR AT MAKAURI.

I Last evening Mr Donglas Lysnar adI dressed a orowded meeting at tho Makauri I schoolroom on tho Bubjeot of no-lioonso. I Mr W. S. Turnbull presided, and in in- • I troduoing the speaker, stated that Mr f I Lysnar was not a streingor to them. He 1 I was ono of themselvoii, who had their own ! I welfare at heart. Ho did not oom- ' I amongst thorn as a onrpot bagger or oqe I who passed the oolieotion-box round. (Applause ) He (tho Obaiiman) was sorry to I see that Mr Lysnar had had a rough time I in town, but bo was sure that he would reI coive a pationt and attentive hearing at Makauri. (Applause.) In acknowledging the oordial reception j acoorded him, Mr Lysnar Baid that he re. I gerded no-lioense aa the most dangerous I social question they had to consider. It I was absolutely neoessary for them to hear both sides before they could dooido. (Ap» I plause.) Ho asked them to put asido the I question of sentiment, and oonsider the I question on its merits. He admitted that thoro wore many evils attached to tho [ drink traffic, but bo contended that nolioenso was not the true remedy. In this contention he was supported by all leading authorities on tho question. Replying i to the assertions of tbe no-lioonse party i that he was in the pay of the Lioeneed j Victuallers’ Association, Mr Lysnar gave

this a most emphatic denial. He had never reoeived a penny from the Association, whilst he had paid £SOO out of hie own pooket,in fighting against prohibition. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr Lysnar spoke on the lines of bis town address, being snbjeoted at times to a number of friendly interjootions. He produced the bottle which he brought from Gore to show those present the amount of liquor that they oould each bring in daily. The production of tho vessel in question was made the subjeol of mirth, odo prominent prohibitionist of Makauri urging that it woulfl make an exoelienl lantern to see him home on a dark night. (Laughter and applause.) The speaker contended that tho district was not in a position to try suoh a dangerous experiment as no-lioense. Its isolation made this all tbe more apparent, there being every inducement and encouragement for sly grog-eelling and smuggling. As far os he was personally oonoerued it did not matter inuoh to him how the matter went. He could get ail tho grog he wanted. He could afford to keep as much aa he liked in the house, but the poor man would be debarred from getting a glass-of beer. It was far better for a man to go to an hotel openly than to sneak round tbe corner into a sly grog shop and get drink in that way. (Applause.) It was unmanly in the extreme, and was calculated to undermine tbe eharaoter and principles of their young meD. Continuing, Mr Lysnar dealt at length with the evils of sly grog selling in the no license districts ia tho South Island, showing that tho, closing down of the hotels had not in any way diminished the consumption of liquor. It had on the other hand increased it, and what was more it had led to the promotion of juvenile drunkenness. At present there were no ely-grog shops at Makauri, but were the hotels in the surrounding districts olosed, they would have enough of plygrog selling; thry would soon bo anxious to get back to well-regulated hotels. (Applause and dissent.) Ths effeot of carrying no-lioenaa was evident iu the va'ues of Gore, whioh had considerably decreased, and it would bo the same in this district. In conclusion, Mr Lysnar dealt at some length with prohibition in Maine and other American States, pointing out what a dismal failure it bad been wherever it had been adopted. To carry no-license in Waiapu would only mean .the.acoentnn*.i»»« r ot 'the'evils which at present existed, ana could not possibly result in any good. The scattered nature of the district would make travelling difficult, whilst the accommodation afforded the public would not be anything like what it was to-day. Let no person vote for no-lioense in the belief that ho was going to remove liquor; he was only going to .increase the number of plaoes where they oould get liquor at. Ho strongly urged ail present to do their utmost against such aa aogodlv, immoral and improper reform. (Applause.) Mr Lysnar spoke for over 2£ hours, and was acoorded an attentive hearing, although there was from time to time a good deal of friendly " barrack.” In answer to questions, Mr Lysnar said that the Reform League had done a considerable amount of good. It had etoppod persons from going on licensed premises after hours, and had prevented boys from getting drink. He considered it far better to have half a dozen well-conducted hotels than thirty or forty sly-grop shops. Tho latter wore bound to spring np when licenses were done away with. He claimed that a law was manifestly unfair which allowed a rich man to have all the liquor, he required whilst a working man was debarred his glass of beer. The Bible right through wa3 opposed to prohibition. Ho conoids:ed travelling throughout tbe district would be made very difficult if tbe hotels were done away’ with, The district was a vory soattsred one, and without the profits of tbe bar the excellent accommodation now afforded oould not be obtained. Tbe principle of prohibition was entirely opposed to British fair play and liberty. On tbe motion of Mr Bolton a hearty • vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer, the meetiDg terminating at half-paet 11,