NO-LICENSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2200, 26 May 1908, Page 2

NO-LICENSE.

A MASSMEETING

ASHBURTON ENTHUSIASM,

(Press Association.) ’ ; ASHBURTON, May iC. , The no-license mass meeting was one of the largest and most enthusiastic gatherings ever held in Ashburton. The, Mayor presided, and was supported by the Anglicau, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist clergymen of the country, and of Gi’mldine, and prominent workers. Mr A. R. Atkinson spoke for nearly an hour, and Mr T. E. Taylor for an hour and a-lia-lf, and at tne conclusicm the following motions -were carried unanimously: “That t-li-te meeting, recognising the substantial benefits accruing from no-license in even restricted areas, unanimously demands from Parliament power of colonial option by clear majority.” “That recognising the immense benefit conferred upon this district by six years of no-license in the reduction of drunkenness and crime and .tile promotion of domestic happiness, public decency," and -general prosperity, and undeterred by the outrageout misrepresentation" of the party which had been made bv the advocates of the liquor traffic "with a view to securing the -restoration of licenses, this public meeting of electors of Ashburton expresses its determination to use legitimate efforts to secure carrying of the poll -against restoration, and to extinguish the six licenses recently added to" the electorate.” In the course of a conversation with a “Guardian” representative tin's morning, Mr. Taylor said that within the last few weeks -a considerable number of applications for enrolment had been, put -into, the Registrar’s office of one of tlio city, of Christchurch electorates, all of which were made out in one handwriting, and the signatures to all of which were, in the absence of expert evidnee and of proof to the contrary, signed by one person, that is, under different names, but in the same handwriting “The occurrence -naturally attracted the attention of the officials” said Mr. Taylor, “and the matter has been referred to the "Wellington authorities, with a request that instructions may be given to the local Re<riMrar to proceed for a breach of the Electoral Act.” Mr. Taylor added“So far as I can ascertain, the matter is still under consideration in Wellington.- L believe I am right i„ saying that all of these applications lor enrolment were witnessed bv a publican. We have often suspected corruption in the electoral rolls Action in this matter is of vital import a nee to us at this stage of the campaign, and we intend, if possible, to see that the Government shall take prompt and thorough action to deal with the matter. If the no-license party were suspected of similar misconduct. the whole of the liquor interests in the Dominion would demand prompt and vigorous punishment.”