“A ‘DRY’ SUBJECT”

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 752, 1 August 1922, Page 4

“A ‘DRY’ SUBJECT”

(To the Editor). Sir, —The wrier of “Our Auckland Letter” is evidently a very good friend to “The Trade.” For a considerable itinre past I have noticed that with almost unfailing regularity he has a tilt at Prohibition. In the “Letter” in Tuesday’s issue lie quotes Mr A. S. Bankart as saying that in America the one and only topic is Prohibition, and 'h it it seemed to him that the great majority of the American people have come to the conclusion that the cure is worse than the disease.” But he d; es not state that Mr Bankart is a leading - light of the Liquor Party in Ne.v Zealand, and therefore - as his “craft is in danger” cannot be expected to favour its executioner. If Mr Bankarts opinion is correct, bow is that the two much advertised and expensively organised anti.Prohibitlion demonstrations in New York weire such miserable failures ? It was extensively 'advertised by the “Wets 7 ’ that; on July 4th, 1921, at least' 20(H)00 would march in protect, less than 15,000 turned out. Again, on May 3rd this year, the association against the Prohibitionist ame'nidement, which claims to have 30,000 members in New York city, arranged a rally in Madison Square Gardens and the “New York World” announced “ one hundred thousand will plainly hear every word' of speeches at meeting - ito-night. Clusters of loud speaking horns have been hung in various partts of the gardens.” Only a petty eight thousand turned up. New York has a population of over five millions. Your “Own” mentions the Bey. R. B. S. Hammond, but. Sir, can the refute the facts' given by Mr Hammond that in one yeir since Prohibition came- into force 7000 beds in the great hospitals of New Yorkhad been emptied; three great accident wards had h(cen closed and all accidents were now concentrated in one ward. In 59 cities in the United States w|th a (population of 20,000,000, the number of convictions bad decreased in a single year by 207.000. In Topeka, Kansas., where Prohibition had nncd for 30 years, no organised charities had been necessary for 25 years. “The Police Courts, gaols, and hospitals, the charitable institutions, the orphanages aU told the same astounding story of reduction in admissions.” Archbishop Julius is quoted as saying “Prohibition might worse than the liquor. ( The Aich-bi-shop has not seen the working of Prohibition, but be lias seen the resuits the Liquor Traffic, and is so disgusted with them thirjt he is preprepared to put Prohibition to the prooof. Tf New Zealand votes with the Archbishop the “Trade” is doomed. T am, etc. - , J. OLPIIERT.