WHAT ABOUT WAIHI ?
THE PROHIBITIONISTS' CHAL-
LENCE ACCEPTED
SOME STAGGERING STATE-
MENTS
No-license does not and never did mean drinking less. On Saturday night we were challenged to discuss Wailii, and we Hasten to respond to any request so politely put. Listen to the Rev. G. W. Smailes, the Anglican clergyman at Wailii. Mr Smailes lias been as keen on No-license as any clergyman in Gisborne. He was a sincere and earnest advocate, honestly believing it to be a great reform and worth fighting for. At a recent Anglican conference at Cambridge the Rev. Smailes confessed to having been disillusioned, and Mated openly “If under No-license there was no drinking at the open bar there v as a lot probably at the fireside. He could not say for certain, but considered -.hat the quantity of liquor taken into Nolioense districts was aa great, if not greater, than before No-license became an actual fact.” He complained of the facilities with which liquor was obtained and said “IT SIMPLY CAME IN IN TRUCKLOADS.” No one can question Mr Smailes’ bona fides. Ho was formerly a minister in the Mt. Eden (No-!icense) district, a staunch teetotaller, and formerly a red-hot No.-license advocate. Is it- surprising that the Rev. Chatterton notes “a great change coming over public opinion.” The Rev. Smailes is courageous enough to admit that Waihi has changed his' opinion of No-license, and ho has -the support of the Mayor, who has recently made a sworn declaration that No-iicenso has brought no material or moral benefit with it. In one Court c-ase at Wailii last February a man swore on oath that “eight i>ersons, members of his family and household, consumed between them four gallons of ale and eight bottles of whisky per week.” Wailii is on© of the most glaring illustrations of the fact that No-license does not mean less liquor and! Prohibition does not prohibit, and with the example of Waihi before their eyes wo. feel assured the intelligent elee'tors~of Gisborne will not be bluffed and hoodwinked any longer, but will strike out the bottom lines on both ballot papers at the coming election. It is the only sensible vote.***
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GIST19111030.2.5
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Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3361, 30 October 1911, Page 2
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360WHAT ABOUT WAIHI ? Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3361, 30 October 1911, Page 2
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