Prefaratory Note.

In February last the Executive Council of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers' Association was instructed to obtain from the Prohibitory States of America the working of the Prohibition Law in those States. Soon after arrangements were made with Mr H. Gilbert Stringer (official reporter to the Parliament of Tasmania) for this purpose.

Mr St ringer was proceeding to the World's Fair in Chicago in the interest of certain newspaper companies. Our instructions to him were to ascertain the true state of the trade in those States from every possible source, especially from officials, and official statistics, verifying them from personal observation, and signatures of prominent citizens and officials where practicable.

The first instalment of Mr Stringer's investigation is now placed before our readers, trusting it may assist them to a better knowledge of the subject now agitating the public mind.