LABOUR AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 305, 13 September 1918, Page 6

LABOUR AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC

Sir—lll this morning's issue you give prominence to a statement made uy Mr. R. Semple, agent New Zealand Coal Miners' Federation, on the liquor question and State control, and at the outset-we wish to slate most em--•piratically that in our opinion there is no one in New Zealand who is ma, position to speak for Labour on mis question. We, like Mr. Semple, travel about the country a good deal, ana our personal opinion and experience is that tho sane, sensible worker _ is strongly in favour of Prohibition. State control is tho 6heet anchor of those who advocate license—and among them are one or two Labour men who call themselves Socialists. Mr. Stmplo says that Labour stands for the socialisation of all industries. This is not correct. Labour stands for the socialisation of all useful industries. The liquor traffic is not a useful industry. Medical science in all ports of tho world is agreed on that point. Labour above all other things stands for the social well-being, morally, n;en- >' tally, and physically of the people, and liquor dispensed by either the State or anyone else does not make for tho social well-being of the people. Mr. Semple refers to ■'commercial cannibalism," and views their action with suspicion. We view with suspicion the action of any Labour lr.an who stands on the side of liquor, but whether it is or is not, '•'commercial cannibalism" we want to sfe a sclcr democracy, and we will then be in a better position to fight the gentlemen referred to. Whilst we are respectively the president and general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Thilway_ Servants of New Zealand, we wish it to be. distinctly understood that ve are only expressing our own personal opm« ions on the mattcr.—'We are etc.. B, HAMPTON,. M. J. MACK. September 12.