LLOYD GEORGE'S "REPENTENCE"

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

LLOYD GEORGE'S "REPENTENCE"

Sir.—A second time your correspondent, E. Kennedy, has tried to score some points against prohibition off Lloyd George's bat. He is on a dangerous wicket, and the longer he stays on this field the heavier will ho the final score against liquor. I challenge Mr. Kennedy to disprove the following contentions:—(l) Early in 1915 Lloyd George declared to a deputation of shipbuilders, "Britain is fighting three enemies, Germany, Austria, and Drink; and, as far as I can see, the greatest of these is drink." He also declared that drink was doing the nation more harm than all the German submarines. Lloyd George has never withdrawn, retracted, or modified these charges. His indictment still stands. Lloyd George, rightly or wrongly, felt that the nation could not fight the giant of German militarism in front and at the same time challenge to mortal combat the portentious beer Philistine in the rear. He therefore took a second best course of action by seeking to mitigate the evil Parliament reiii.sed to abolish. The hours for the sale of liquor were severely restricted; its alcoholic strength was reduced enormously, iho price of this heavily w.ifceml liqntir was raised to the purchaser; and though in 1017 Lho drink bill had increased to •£259,000.000 from £164,000,000 in 1914, less liquor by the gallon was actually consumed, ond that of greatly lowered alcoholic strength I Does Mr. Kennedy approve of these measures of Lloyd George in trying to mitigate the disaster which Parliament refused to avert? (2) Lloyd-George made it clear that in adopting this second best course of action he did not adopt a second best set of temperance principles. The entire elimination of the liqiior traffic is still his goal. He advocated the State purchase of the liquor traffic with a-..view of finally ending it. He did this on the principle, that sometimes ii flank movement against the enemy is less costly and more successful than a frontal attack. Does Mr. .Kennedy advocate State purchase with a view of removing "opposition to temperance reform'' as Lloyd George did for a time: or, with n ri<-w to the continuance of the traffic? . (3) Lloyd George and the British Government have definitely abandoned the policy of temperance reform through State purchase. Even Mr. Kennedy will he aware that "repentance" denotes a change of mind. And so. on Mr. Kennedy's showing, England's master statesman has repented of his advocacy of the State purchase and control of the liquor traffic, and can no longer be

quoted honestly in such a connection. (4) Lloyd George lias built liis lite solidly on total abstinence principles. And, if ho were in New Zealand, he would encourage those who arc striving to bring the, Dominion to nationally endorse the principles ho honours in his own life. Regarding Russia: Mr. Kennedy declares that Prohibition is responsible for its red revolution. Really! This is a piece of super-brazen bluff! If Mr. Kennedy afid those he represents want the. infamous war record of alcohol in Russia set before the. people of Now Zealand, they shall have it. Rut the story is too long and too gruesome for the columns of a respectable newspaper.—l am, etc.. W. S.' ROLLINGS. Brooklyn, September 19. [Owing to pressure on our space this letter has been curtailed.]