THE “ILLUSIONIST JANSEN" INTERVIEW.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3559, 26 June 1912, Page 2

THE “ILLUSIONIST JANSEN" INTERVIEW.

(to the editor.) Sir, —Jn your issue of June S there appeared a copy of an alleged interview with Air Jansen, the famous illusionist. This was, of course, copied by you in good faith, and no change lies against you in copying it. It is a pity, however, that the press of New Zealand is so eager to re-print anything against No-license and so slow to give publicity on its own initiative to anything favorable to that policy. Fortunately for tlie interests of truth Air Jansen was interviewed at the

BlufE just before his departure for Melbourne by a representative of the Southland Times, who asked him as to the truth or otherwise of Ids alleged assertions supposed to have been made to a Christ; Imreh pressman- His attention was particularly -called to this passage: “In Invercargill he saw a sight the like of which he had seen nowhere else —three youths, not one of whom looked more than 13 years old, all hopelessly drunk. One clung to a lamp post, - one lay across the footpath, and the third lurched about them swearing at the top of his voice.’’ Incredible as it may seem, Mr Jansen- replied as follows":

“He had never made, to the pressman the statement attributed to him regarding the three youths and he had never said that- lie had not seen such a sight anywhere else. It would be I absurd on bis part to deliver judgment regarding the morals of any town after being acquainted with it for a-dav •or two only, and he characterised the version as an effort on the part of a pressman to make copy. . . his statements in this connection had been greatly distorted. .. . he was glad of the opportunity .to correct the] false impression that had been made,] " and he would be very sorry if the t >."-[ 1 zens of Invercargill thought tor a moment that he had been guilty of mak- 1 ing them.” All the above is a splendid exposure of the tactics of the liquor tracer:; Lately there has been a systematic exploitation of travelling phiyers such as Miss Hilda Spowg ;< :im • Air H. B. Irving against No-lio-nse. ! -As Air Jansen says, it is “absurd” for | these people after an acquaintance of a day or two to pass judgment on such I a question. The evidence of reduced crime, of practically an entire absence of pauperism, of increased respectability and good order in the streets, of increased business and bank savings accounts, of greatly increased: gas con-

sumption, all proves that No-license helps the homes and increases the happiness and well being of the peo--2Je.-"—I am, etc., G. B- XICHOLLS. Christchurch, June 22.