CANADA AND PROHIBITION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 12

CANADA AND PROHIBITION.

MODERATIONISTS' CAMPAIGN.-

(from our ow>» correspondent.) VANCOUVER, February 1G

A somewhat grotesque situation obtains in danadn, where- the prohibition regulations are undergoing, a virulent nation-wide- attack by adherents from all classes of the. population, and although the month of February witnessed the official termination of further interprovincial trading in intoxicating liquors in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, movements were set on foot in those three large areas with a view of repealing legislative restrictions which have been denounced in no uncertain manner ever sineo their inception. True, these regulations were primarily recognised as war emergencies, .but shortly after the signing of the armistice the industrial workers of the country anticipated that such legislation, would be promptly swept away, and a system of moderation replace the former open saloon days. ' In consequence of the vigorous campaign of the prohibition parties in the various provinces the "dry" situation in Canada did not materially change, although Quebec enjoyed certain privileges in regard to beer and wine. The other parts of Canada had to content themselves with quaffing the so-called "near-beer" of a most weakened, quality. ' Then the. doctor's prescription afforded an outlet, and this was converted into a national scandal and medical practitioners made fortunes by simply issuing prescriptions allowing tho '-patient" to purchase from drugstores or the Government bonded liquor stoue copious quantities of whisky or brandy, which, as might be presumed, never "cured'' the thirst} "patient." •Subsequently the quantity obtainable was reduced to a 12-ounce supply, and doctors were prevented from issuing more than 100 "prescriptions" monthly. While all this was proceeding the illicit manufacturer was working overtime making substitutes for the "real stujf," and he, like the doctor, was amassing a fortune.

Returned Soldiers Busy.

When the populace discovered that entire removal of the liquor restrictions could not be expected owing to the opposition of the prohibitionists in and out of tho provincial legislatures, parties of returned soldiers changed their attitude of appealing to those seats of lawmaking ih the provincial capitals, and set about educating the people generally on the subject, and the result was the formulation of a moderation poliey ; which virtually had it's birth in British Columbia. A large section of the Government in that province strongly opposed any such policy, but after a by-election, when the Moderationists clearly made their demands, Premier Oliver acceded to a generaPelection for tho province, and the Modcratiohist party Won a memorable victory. The Legislature has 5 just opened its'session in Victoria, and the new legislation is under discussion, and has aroused the attention of the whole of the Dominion of, Canada, for. other provinces which have been _ agitating' for a "saner" system of legislation as regards the liquor question, are anxious to come under tho same category as tho Western Province.

In the Moderation campaign throughout Canada tho former soldiers of the country have played a prominent part, and are still doing so, and it is in Alberta that feeling is running intensely high. A'Moderation League has been formed, and in a few days over 10,000 people signed a memorial to the Alberta Legislature in the city of Calgary, whilst in the capital city of Edmonton a similar number subscribed their names to the document, urging the wiping out .of tho. bone-dry laws, and the establishment of a Moderation regime of Government control of liquor, with facilities for all to obtain wines, beer, and spirits, and the institution of a system whereby the individual was allowed the liberty •of deciding for himself.

Americans Attracted,

Wherever roads from- the United States approach the international boundary scores of automobiles may *be frequently seen crossing into Canadian territory in quest of "something stronger than \vater," but with the institution of the Moderationists' regulations, it is anticipated that there will be an enormous influx of Americans into the Dominion. As it is, hundreds of visitors make the pilgrimage from the adjoining State of Washington to British Columbia' every week with the object of refreshing themselves. The same story holds good.to Spokane and Winnipeg, and Detroit is notorious for its "processions':' from the States into Ontario.

Now the difficulty has arisen where, under 'the new laws, 'for* instance, a party of Americans from Seattle may drive over to Vancouver in their motors, visit the government/dispensary, and secure a bottle each, according- to, law. They cannot, except they defy their own authorities, take the liquor liotne-to the States with them, but, according to British' Columbia lav, are. entitled to have it in their possession and-to drink it. But where':' Street-corner parties will scarcely-be permitted, nor joy rides', in automobiles. Private homes cannot always be visited.'by the .outsiders., So is would appear that certain leeway will be .asked for. hotels. It is already being contended in British Columbia that the legal home of a visitor is where he is registered in a city, and it *vill be in the hotel room that he, will have to driijk his portion. Abuses of the 1 permit system have been foreshadowed, where a man who does not drink, may sell his birthright for cold cash and someone else may be entitled to obtain an extra "dose'' of liquor under the purchasing privilege. Anyhow, the introduction of the Canadian Moderation system, although 1 many difficulties may arise and need adjustment, will materially reduce the present discontent existent in the Dominion owing to the rigorous restrictions brought about by wartime regulations and subsequent enactments through the over-zealous activities of ardent pronffiltiohists.

Liquor on Steamers.

The U.S. .Congress has decreed that even American passenger ships cannot carry or sell wine or beer or intoxicants of any kind. As a result American tourists 'and business men rarely sail on ships flying the American flag. Nobody wishes to travel on an American ship to Manila or to Alaska when they can get a Canadian-Pacific Railway Company's ship." The Canadian-Pacific steamers plying between Vancouver and Seattle and Alaska and other coast points in 1920 surpassed all other ycaTs in trafSc and profits. Tho other day when the stateiy Empress of Russia sailed from Vancouver for the Orient every cabin was filled, and over 70 peacent, of the. first-class passengers were Americans, most of them bound for Manila. Many of these were United St.'te-, Government oliieiais, who preferred to sail the liigh seas on a Canadian .ship than on an American ship from San Francisco which, according to American law, must be "bone, dry." The dry law has tilled th» Alaskan tourist trade on American ships. All the space on Canadian ships" devoted to Alaskan trade is alr/eady mortgaged for the summer of 1921. Further, in consequence of the Moderation laws in \Vestarn Canada, large numbers of Americans are providing themselves with summer homes close to Vancouver and Victoria so as to enjoy themselves outside a bone-dry territory. It is expected that a similar course will be pursued all along the 3000 miles interaaI tional boundary, as Americans have declared themselves tired of imbibing del-

eterious alcohol served out by bootleggers and smugglers, who have made hundreds of thousands of dollars by defeating the American dry laws. As efforts are now- being made in America to introduce legislation preventing British ships entering United States ports when carrying liquor, i'arroacliing effects are expected to result, for liners engaged in regular transatlantic service between the United States and Britain will now probably joumey direct to Halifax or St. John, to the advantage of -tourist travel in Canada. It is suggested that some of tJu- present traffic to New Zealand touching at Newport News will, in future, avoid the Panama Canal, and make the trip across Canada, reaching Australasia via Vancouver. Far Eastern trade would he similarly affected.