THE SOLEMN TRUTH

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1268, 25 October 1911, Page 6

THE SOLEMN TRUTH

CONCERNING AN ACT THAT MAKES CRIMINAL WHAT IS INNOCENT. It is not generally known that if NoLicense and Proii'bilion aro carried that the good, thrifty housewife will not bo allowed to make eider out of the apples of her husband's orchard, and ho will be prevented from converting his surplus fruit into wino or Jiis hops and barley into beer.

If No-License and Prohibition arc carried tho making of tlieso commodities, even for home consumption, will be criminal. This is a solemn truth, and the public generally do not know to wlicit lengths tho Prohibitionists have forced the Legislature to go towards making criminal what most housewives havo done with pride and pleasure from time immemorial. Let lis quote this tyrannous piece of legislation a clamorous section hive forced upon, a long-enduring moderateminded people LICENSING AMENDMENT ACT, 1910. Section 21.—At all times while 110 licenses exist in New Zealand by virtue Df any determination in favour 01" national prohibition, and while that determination remains in force, it shall ba unlawful for any person to import into Now Zealand, or to manufacture, sell, or have in his possession for ilio purpose of sale, intoxicating liquor of any description. Any person who in breaoli of this section imports into New Zealand, manufactures, sells, or has ill his possession for the purpose of sale, any intoxicatiug liquor, or who attempts to commit any such offence, or who aids, abets, or procures the commission, of any such oii'once, shall be liabio on summary conviction to a line not exceeding 0110 hundred pounds (.ElO'J) in tho case of the first offence, and to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months in the case of tho second offence or any subsequent offence against this section, whether of the same or of a different kind. Tho Prohibitionists havo been given a tyrannous weapon in this Act of Parliament, and it becomcs a question for every man and woman of moderate fairminded principles to say whether thesa irresponsible persons are to be allowed any longer to rule over the entire community and make criminal what is in itself perfectly innocent and beneficial. Quito a number of persons who havo hitherto voted for Prohibition havo declared that they will no longer support a movement that is at once ungenerous ami tyrannical—that converts innocent and perfectly reasonable acts into criminal offences liabio to punishment to tho tunc of .£IOO, tho fine for a first offence, and threo months' imprisonment for a second offence. Jn order to pacify those, however, who cannot go this far ill even their notions of enforcing temperance by the power of the law, leaving nothing to moral and religious miluences, tho Rev. \\'. Walker was put up to inform the Prohibitionists and public that tho Act of fiio Legislature docs not mean what it says; and as there was some doubt cost

upon the subject—wo would not say this reverend gentleman deliberately, wilfully, oiul maliciously misrepresented the case —that is the language the Prohibition leaders apply to everyone who happens to oppose tllem—the opinion of Mr. Martin Chapman, K.C., was obtained, and a copy of this opinion is hero presented: Mr. Walker is reported to have said that the Licensing Act Amendment, 1910, wliich prohibits with penalties the manufacture of intoxicating liquor of any kind, leaves it quite lawful l'or any •'person to make home-made alcoholic leverages for home consumption. Ho considers that things made at homo are not "manufactured"—that the Act applies only to liquors made fi>r sale. In my opinion, there is'no foundation for the above opinion. For the purpose of construing the Act in question the words "make" and "manufacture" are convertible terms. Intoxicating liquors made at home for use are as much manufactured as if made at a brewery or a distillery for sale. The Act, i" brought into force, would apply equally to the one and the other. Shortly, lam of opinion should National Prohibition be established under the above Act in New Zealand (hat it will be illegal for any person to make beer or any other ,ilcohoi;c liquors for their own consumption, or for any other purposes.

(Signed) MARTIN CHAPMAN. With such legislation in operation no home is free from intrusion, and no person free from suspicion. When a man's home may bo unceremoniously invaded by the police at llio instigation of some evil-minded, gossip-loving Prohibitionist, what sort of a country will it bo to live in? Every man will bo suspicions of his ncighoour, and (lie bonds of civilised society will be shaken to their foundation. The whole conception of the conditions under a prohibitory law of this kind—and this is tho law—the whole community will be degraded into suspects, suspected, charged and criminal. What arc free men and women to gain Inplacing such a weapon of torture as t?ii' s into the hands of any sort of a majority? ]f men and women would be free themselves and have the importation, manufacture, and sale of alcoholic beverages properly controlled, Ihey must strike out the bottom lines on election day, and let tho Prohibitionists know that they refuse i to be reduced (o the condition of chHTlren, the insane, or criminal.* I