The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1908. THE LICENSING POLL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2350, 17 November 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1908. THE LICENSING POLL.

To-day will stand as a memorable one in the history of Gisborne, for a'the various polling ■ booths will be focussed the results of months of solid work and incessant canvassing by those interested in the reform of No-license. Simp we last touched upon the subject both parties have been straining every nerve to influence the voters to their way of thinking. A lot of twaddle has been talked and written, and here and there in the mass of chaff have been a few grains of wheat, but, generally speaking, any additional facts that have come out in no- wise affect the truth of the position as already set forth in these columns. Take the question of prosperity. With the exception of tho assertions of Air. J. Sheridan, whose able pamphlet aroused considerable interest, there has been no evidence to prove the contention of tho trade that No-license spells depression. Figures have- been quoted by Air. Sheridan and others, but, after all, figures cannot always be accepted as reliable data unless accompanied) by very necessary explanations. Thus it would: be absurd to compare an old and settled distret such as Ashburton with one like Gisborne, which is just experiencing the buoyancy and elasticity of lusty youth. Ashburton was one of the least progressive towns in the Dominion long before No-license was carried in that district; and it would be ridiculous to expect that borough to keep pace with one which is opening up fresh country day by day as is the case in Gisborne. So far as one can tell, the destiny of Ashburton is that of» a comparatively unimportant town ; that of Gisborne is only bounded by the energy of its people and the sagacity of its- public men, for Nature qualified it to become one of the chief cities of the Dominion. To suggest that by the carrying of No-license Gisborne is to suddenly become involved in a wave of depression is to infer that the country which sustains it will suddenly lose its fertility or that the absence of open bars will bring down the price of raw products in the Homo markets.- From the point of -view of prosperity, the only difference that could reasonably be expected to ensue would he that

here and there a few had debts would be made good by the transference of a mail’s earnings from the hotel to Iris own home, but as we mentioned before the total saving—for saving it would be—would not be greatly noticed when- distributed 1 amongst tbo different tradesmen of the town. There is, of course, another aspect. His Worship the Mayor would leave the town according to liis public promise,. and the Borough Council would be able to get- down to some solid work for the benefit of the town.

There would still be a good deal of drinking, some legally, some in contravention of the law,* but the total amount of liquor consumed would be considerably less than ie«*the case at present. “The Trade,” though openly denying this obvious fact, must recognise 'it, otherwise why do we find the brewing interests fighting so strenuously .to prevent the closing of the hotel bars? The reduction ,in drinking would come about almost solely in regard to what may be called casual drinking. The business man who finds that under existing circumstances it is exceedingly difficult to get through his day’s transactions without paying more or less frequent visits to the nearest hotel bar will be able to avoid that practice. If he drinks at all it will be because he has a definite desire to do so, and tlio habit ■will cease to be a necessaryiad.junct to his ordinary day’s wlrk. Again, the shouting custom wfuld largely disappear as the result of the increased difficulty of obtaining a glass of intoxicating liquor at a moment’s notice. Drunkenness, if not entirely abolished, would be very materially reduced, and Gisborne would lo.se its present unenviable pre-emi-nence in Court records under this head.

More important than all, however, is “the probable effect on- the rising generation. Those who aro already given over to the liquor habit, either ns constant tipplers or as confirmed drunkards, would continue to obtain it either legally or illegally, but the chances of the youths just springing into manhood escaping the temptation which under existing circumstances is rearing a fresh crop of drunkards each year would be materially lessened. The figures we published the other day concerning the drunkenness that takes place in New Zealand disclosed a truly alarming state of affairs, and the fact that during the last- seven years no less a number than 35,000 persons have made their -first appearance in the police courts under this charge shows that it has long since ceased to be a matter for consideration only by faddists and other extremists. Many esteemed correspondents- have differed from us in the stand we have taken up on the No-license question, but the evils arising from the liquor trade as at present conducted aro so pronounced as to- constitute a menace to the national welfare, and we should he entirely lacking in our duty did we not- draw public attention to tho importance of the issue involved. We do not look upon No-license as being necessarily the last word in the solution of the liquor problem, but it is the only alternatve offering for an undesirable and dangerous state of affairs. Like other reforms No-license would probably bring some evils in its train, but it certainly seems to give the rising generation a better chance of avoiding the curse of intemperance. . Under the present system young men must inevitably, by -reason of the essential part, which the open bar plays in tho social and business habits of the people, sooner or later find their way to the hotel bar. Onco there heredity and early training play their part, and it is only a question of time when a proportion of them will join the ranks of heavy drinkers and drunkards. . The abolition of the open bar to our mind seems to make it very much easier for those who by heredity or other causes are physically or mentally prodisposed to acquire a craving for intoxicants to avoid a habit which, if once acquired, will prove ruinous to themselves, distressing to their friends, and harmful to the State. This is the strongest claim that can be put forth by No-license advocates, and during all the discussion which has taken place recently its soundness lias not been challenged.