NO-LICENSE LEAGUE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2103, 11 June 1907, Page 1

NO-LICENSE LEAGUE

At the meeting of tho No License League held last night, Mr. F. Staf- j ford gave an address on “The Effects ■ of the Liquor Traffic on Trade.” The liquor, traffic, he said, is founded on : superstition. All its ways have come from the . past, grown out of habits and customs. Drink is indulged in because the weather .’s cold or because the weather is hot. Some drink to make them strong, and are found in the gutter weak and ill. Any effort to check the drink is met by saying it is injurious to trade. It will do nothing of the sort. If the amounts now spent in liquor were spent in boots, clothes, food, farm materials, etc., the trade of the place would increase by leaps and bounds. No-license places in N.Z. prove this. Ashburton tradesmen recently issued a declaration, saying that this had been their experience. Their gas company paid a higher dividend than over before. The Savings Bank showed an increase of £17,000. The Building Society’s funds received a great impetus. The loss to the Borough Council in rates by the closing of hotels was more than made up by increased valuations. The loca. ! paper was converted from an oppon • i ont to a friend of No-License). The j Borough Council reduced rates at the end of two years by 6d ,jn the £. In the brewing trade only about 7 I per cent, goes to wages—in othci ■ trades some 34 per cent, goes to tlie | working man. John Burns said, j “The diminished demand of our home | trade, which the drinking habits of i our people accounts for, does great iharm.” During the last 25 years the j U.K. has spent £4,000,000,000 on ■ this traffic. AVliat blessings would ; have accrued to the mercantile community there if thils sum had been

spout in general merchandise! The Guardian (Ashburton) says, “Wo are compelled to admit that the lessened consumption of alcoholic liquors in this borough has benefited trade and made for sobriotp, purity, and righteousness, sly grog eases notwithstanding.” Tho Ashburton answers show a largo proportion of tradesmen of that town favor No-License. These include all the storekeepers, all the tailors, all tho butchers, all the coal morcliants, all the booksellers, all the carpenters, all the builders, and all tho contractors, nine out of ten drapers, five out of six ■ manufacturers, and throe out of four bricklayors. Of 122 answers, 89 men absolutely in favor of No-License, 9 largely in favor, 12 partially, and only 12 against it. Mr. Palk mentioned the recent setback received at Ashburton,' and explained it by stating that a club of GOO men there had voted No-License previously, when they thought their own license was to bo kept. When they found that also was to go they turned round and voted for the trade. This made a difference oi 1200 votes, which is quite sufficient to explain the change.