STATE CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 309, 24 September 1918, Page 8

STATE CONTROL

Sir—Mr. E. Kennedy, secretary of tlio Hotel' Union., is again to the fore in your issue this .morning with his old mis-statement that Labour leaders in Groat Britain are for State control of the. liquor trade. He mentions only two in his letter. One of these is Mr. Snowden. In support of this he-quotes from a hook Mr.. Snowden wrote many yeaTs ago. Mr. Kennedy refers to someone as being a laggard. Ho himself should quote, from something more up to date than Mr. Snowdon's hook'written in 1908. Mr. Snowden is to-day an out-and-out prohibitionist, as New Zenlanders very well know, and as he made perfectly clear when ho was hern in New Zealand. The Independent Labour Party, with Mr. Snowden in the chair, a year ago last April, passed a motion, moved by''Mrs. Snowden, demanding war-time prohibition. There were only four dissentient votes.' Tn that assembly were Mr. J. Ramsay M'Donald, Mr. Johnston, editor of "Forward," Mr. C. W. Anderson. M.P.. Mr. Bruce Glacier, Mr. Tom Richardson, M.P.,Dr. Saltan, Mr. Dick Wallhoad.. and many other Labour notables. Besides theso men, Mr. Arthur Henderson, leader of the Labour Party, is n. pronounced prohibitionist. If Mr. Kennedy, can match this list in his next letter I can supply him with some more, Labour giants who are heartily' opposed to his pet scheme. Perhaps Mr. Kennedy may be glad to know that a short _ time ago at Annon. where the experiment has been carried on of-running a State drinking placp. a vote was taken amongst some of the unions, which resulted in 906 for prohibition and 257 against, which is considerably over throe to one against State "pubs." Of votes' in 27 industrial centres in Great Britain, 16G.693 were for prohibition and 78.066 against, or over two to one-against State control. Mr. Kennedy suggests that prohibition turmoil will lesser, war efficiency. Did he read the evidence submitted to the Efficiency Board or their findings thereon ns to drink and efficiency? If the "trade" and its emnbycos were as willing to accent the clear pronouncement of the men on the Efficiency Board as the prohibition advocates there would be no turmoil necessary. It is the determination of the "trade" to put profits first that is making the turmoil. Let Mr. Kennedy answer this question: If his friend., the Hon. .1. ft.. Olynes,' Foot! Controller, and member of the War Cabinet, as well ns Lloyd George himself is enamoured with State control, why Tuts, not the "trade" been purchased and run as a Government enterprise? The fact is. that State control of liquor in Great Britain was boonjed by certain interests in order to perpetuate liquor control of the State. That is the object, too, in New Zealand at the present moment—l am, J. M'COMBS. September 1.8.