THE FOX AND THE GEESE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 287, 23 August 1918, Page 6

THE FOX AND THE GEESE

Sir,—The assumed business-like way in which "tho trade" has pretended to "find a solution of the licensing question" would be amusing were it not for tho seriousness of the business. They remind one of the curate's invalid horse. The "vet." was sent for, and ho declared that "the only solution" was to cut otS his tail. This was done, and a few days afterwards ho was informed that the "gee-gee" was meandering round looking very pious with the stump of his tail cocked up like a church steeple, and ho did not appear to be "all there." He seemed lo be searching for something. "Maybe he's looking for the solution," said the "vet." "Here it is: You should have taken his tail off behind the ears; half-measures are valueless; he is incurable."

The drunkards wives and families will no doubt bo very grateful to the National Council of Brewers and Publicans for its effort to "find a solution," and we join them in the sincere hope that when they find it it will be the right one. At the same- time Parliament may rest assured that any suggestions "the trade" offers will be of the "heads I win, tails you lose" variety. After enjoying this 'lorn Tidler's groiind, plucking the geeses for ages, it demands compensation to the tune of five million pounds if, in the interests of humanity, this gigantic evil is put away. If the octopus remains I would suggest that a direct contribution be made by "the trade" to the State of a million pounds a year for the privilege it enjoys. There would be something solid about this "solution" and something to com> pensate with. A visit to tho Police Court any morning will disclose social and physical wrecks, who continually plea that they committed the crime under tho influence of liquor. Many of these poor unfortunates require to be medically treated, and it is high time a hospital was established by "the trade" for the purpose of treating D.T. customers. Is there anything in tho world which has caused such "division" as tho liquor trade? Yet we have them hypocritically deprecating any division at the present time. "(1) Desiring in the general welfare that the issue should be left alone til' after the war" is a sample. What would contribute so materially to the "general welfare" as the closing of liquor bars? "'The trade' has been called upon to make great individual sacrifices." Presumably this refers to G o'clock cldsing, which has undoubtedly made a big holo in the publicans' s feceipts, but surely flic money is better in the pockets of those who earned it—put by for a rainy day or laid out to belter advantage for the benefit of tho poor wives and families. Wo desire to rid ourselves of this terrible monster, but we are told that it would be a piiv to stir up strife at this critical time. It would bo much more advantageous to allow "the trade" to continue to stir it up for us as of yore. What sort of vote would be brought about by "the trade's" suggested form of ballot-papers By etrikin? out the top line you would vote for national ownership and national prohibition. There is only need for two issues: National continuance with reparation; national .prohibition with compensation. ' It should be the aim of tho people to keep our politics as pure as possible, and our experience of the liquor business is that it is the most corrupting influence in existence Therefore, "national ownership should never be submitted to the vote. "Wine is a mocker, strong dnnk is ragin* and whosoever is deceived thereby isllotr,wiSe "- Iam jOHN PLOWMAN.