COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS AND PROHIBITION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16437, 3 February 1919, Page 8

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS AND PROHIBITION.

TO THE KDITOR OF "THE rRKSS." Sir, —Mr 11. H. AYauchop, as president of tlio Canterbury Commercial Travellers' Association, seems to bo much concerned as to "what would happen to travellers in out-of-the-way places il' prohibition were carried. in April nest." He ventures to picture it- as something ".awful." It is praiseworthy, no doubt, 011 Mr "Wauchop's part to have regard for the comfort of men on. the. road, but he surely issues a very large order when he contends tliat to secure the kind of comfort lie thinks they ought to iiot it is absolutely necessary that the people of New Zealand! should vote for the continuanco of tha liquor traffic, with all that it involves in the way of vice, crime, arid unspeakable misery. "Awful," indeedf Docs Mr TVauchop know anything to equal in awfulness the tragedies in the homes, and in the social and business lifo of. New Zealand that are directly caused! by the trade that h© seems to bo bo anxious to save from extinction? Tfiere are commercial travellers who would scorn the idea, of having any personal comfort for themselves purohased at] the oost of the profits of tlio liquor bars, which are a curse everywhere, and nowhere more so than in outrof-the-way places. Perhaps Mr Wauohop has not yet heard that prohibition is in fore© .all over Canada, with, trifling exception s, and in the greater part of the* United States, and it is not yet 011 re- ■ cord that in any kind of places in tlioso million-people countries co*unercial travellers have suffered any serious loss or inconvenience because of the cuttingont of booze. Mr Wauohop may calm XT R fr» ar l" Prohibition is coming in New' Zealand, and for the advantages oP every kind it will bring, none will have more cause to be tbankfnl than commercial travellers.—Yours, etc., . w. j. M^LLIXms. February Ist.