PROHIBITION IN AMERICA.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17127, 23 April 1921, Page 11

PROHIBITION IN AMERICA.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE FBESS. Sir,—-You seldom lose an opportunity of pointing out the so-called failure or Prohibition in the United States. Your long and sometimes sensational articles amuse,, if they do not always convince, those 'who believe that not only the United States but the Dominion of New Zealand can be bettered by cutting out the drink traffic. With your usual sense Of fairness, you will grant a little space for evidence of the success of Prohibition. "Enthusiastic reports of the success of Prohibition in the United States are given," says the "Otago Daily Times, "by Mr Chas. Franciß flnd ( his daughter, Mrs Fitch, at present Visiting Dunedin. Mr Francis, among other important positions, holds that of president of the Printers' League of America, and,comes here as Commissioner of the United States Department of Labour, while Mrs Fitch is an attorney and counsellor«at*law and comes with ■ i. commission from the United States Bureau of Education. In the first year after the passing of tho Act enforcing Prohibition, says Mr Francis, the average, of savings bank deposits throughout the States rose 30 per cent, higher than they had over been before, lire efficiency of labour is improving, and the petty crimes due to drunkenness are disappearing. Some'of the stones of the readiness with which liquor could bo obtained after America went dry he explained by stating that for about six months the law was hot strictly enforced, and liquor dealers were given every opportunity to comply With- it. After th"at time, however, penalties so substantial were imposed upon them that business in illicit liquor became most unattractive. Great numbers ot people have liquor stored in their cellars, as they are allowed to do so long as they do not sell it or give it away, but this stock Is continually decreasing, and it is estimated that a third ot it went in the first year. The swiftness of the victory for Prohibition surprised even its most sanguine advocates. Mr 'Francis is satisfied that the decision will never bo reversed. It was carried by 37 out of 48 States, and.it would now require the vote of 36 States against Prohibition to bring liquor back. Besides this, since the last liquor poll the women,of the United States, who, it is recognised, heavily support Prohibition, have been given the full frattThis, Sir, will make your readers quite cheerful after your gloomy stones of the dreadfH things which are supposed to be happening in the-States as the result of banishing the Trade. You will have noticed, although'you do.|iot treat "us to a leader, on the subject, thatr Ontario has recently gone. bone, drv." "While you, Sir, cry out for efficiency, are you not really just <v hundred years behind the times?— Yours, etc -' WOWSER.