NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3376, 17 November 1911, Page 3

NO-LICENSE CAMPAIGN.

MR FOSTER AT WHINRAY’S HALL

Mr J. Foster, ,a No-license advocate from Waihi, opened his campaign at Whinrayfs Hall on Wednesday night. The Rev. Mr Chattorton presided, and there was a large, attendance. Mr Foster said he was quite sure regarding the effects of No-license and the great question of prohibition they did not want to send for any one from Waihi. The chairman was able to enlighten them on many phases of the subject. He knew very little about it, but he knew something about Waihi under license, and something about it under No-license. Ho had contested the Bay of Plenty seat against Mr Herries in 1903, and polled very heavily at Waihi on that occasion. He unsuccessfully contested' the Ohinemuri seat at last election. He was not a miner, and at the present time was a plain working man. He was not a nolicense lecturer strictly speaking. There were a large number of miners at Waihi, and they had to work in a hot and trying atmosphere. When he told them that they would know the miners were addicted to drink. He knew Waihi when within 21 hours of pay time six or eight quarrelsome men would be seen coming out of an hotel, and later they would be wallowing in the mud, tearing at each others’ throaty like mad dogs, not because they were not friends, but because of the fire-water they were charged with. The speaker then went on to, explain matters connected with the deputation to the Mayor of Waihi regarding No-license. The Mayor was an ex-publican, ,nd was never favorable to No-license. The Mayor refused to receive a deputation from the No-license League and business people, but they went to the Council and they received the deputation. The speaker then compared the orderly state of the town and the cleanliness of the town to what it had been under license. Property had decreased in value in Waihi since No-license was carried, but they had to remember it was a town of one- mine. Some time ago the reports concerning that mine were unfavorable, and within twentyfour hours there was hardly’ a-’ property in Waihi that could not have been bought, and this was to a large extent responsible. He did not say that a building boom bad been brought about by No-license, for he did not think it bad. The Government loans for workmen’s dwellings were extended to mining towns, and there had been a great many applications from Waihi. Befpre a man could get a loan he bad to be able to purchase an allotment, and that cost money in the centre of the town. Many men who previously had been drinkers, saved money under No-lic-onse and were able to buy a section, so they claimed No-license was fundamentally responsible for the improved state of affairs. The speaker then went on to show how the locker system was carried on during the first five months, and .said that he thanked God this system was knocked on the head. During the first five months he could' not tell, them much good about No-license in Waihi. but when the police got to work ami made a raid, with the result that fines ranging from £7o to £l5O were imposed it did a great deal to kill the sly grog traffic. The shock was tco great, and the traffic dropped. He did iot mean there was no drinking going on in Waihi after that occasion, for there were one or two charges brought subsequently. Waihi was. .now a clean town, as the Sergeant of Police said one of the cleanest in New Zealand. He had not seen three men standing together under the influence of drink in Waihi for two years. In conclusion, he urged them to think of the quotation "Charity begins at home,” and to strike out the top line on the local option paper, no matter what else they did. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Foster for his address.

Mr. Foster continued his campaign last evening, when he addressed a large audience at the Sievwright Memorial. The Rev. F. W. Chattorton presided. Mr. Fester dealt at length with NoLicense as it affected Waihi, and pointed out the benefits the town had derived since, it was carried.