NATIONAL PROHIBITION.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 772, 3 October 1922, Page 4

NATIONAL PROHIBITION.

(Published by Arrangement),

ADDRESS BY DR. ARMOR, Dr Mary Karris Aimot, of America, who is celebrated as one of the world’s most famous women orators, visited Pukekohe on Friday. September 22nd* and addressed a very large gathering in the Oddfellows’ Hall, that evening. Dr Armor is working in the interests of Prohibition. Her visit to New Zealand will give t,he people an s such as is seldom heard from any <■ platform.

Dr Armor was introduced to her audience by the Mayor (Mr Routly) in a neat speech, and in her opening, remarks she said that had it not been for a mistake a long way back in history (for which she did not blame England) America would have: been part of the Great British Empire, but now £t was her hope and. the hope of the American people that the two nations should clasp hands in a warm friendship and stand side by side for world-wide peace and prosperity. Dr Armor said that she had come to address people of open minds who were, anxious to know the truth about Prohibition in America. Astrong point of her lecture was that the Americans were a sh’rewd, financial people, and if after 4 years’ trtal it was found that the finance of the country suffered, with so many capitalists and 1 multi-mulion-aires in her midst the country would not be alowed to continue dry. Although Americans to a certain extent are philanthrophists. still they are not a people to tolerate anything that affects theit pockets, She aso pointed out that the amount of revenue that was paid to the Government was only a small percentage of the surplus that was over after those connected with the Trade had been kept >n as great luxury as anyone in the land, and that the Liquo'r Traffic did' not bring any money from outside into the country, but took the money from the drinkers’ pockets, and 1 after using, most of it for the brewers’ and publicans’ pleasure, handed over during: the last (three years in New Zealand one andj a quarter millions out of seven millions per annum, and did inestimable damage in hundreds of homes to secure so vast an amount of money for themselves and so little in proportion (for the Government.

If the money had not been spent on drink 1 i£ would! have gone into clothing, boots and better furniture, etc. (as was the case in America) and business in these lines would boom ahead and the Government would still get the necessary amount of revenue (as is was in America) from trades which are not responsible for the physical deterioration, spdiled careers and ruined homes, the liquor traffic is accountable for. Dr Armor stated that going dky in America was § slow process. It was now 60 years since the first,. State went dry, and others had fol-, lowed every poll,, until when Consti- . tutiona Prohibition was carried fourfifths of the people in Ameifca were . living under Prohibtion, A great financial country like America would not accept Constitu--* tional Prohibition if it , was found detrimental to the finances of the . country, and if Prohibition was forthe general good surely the moderate drinkerfs would give lit a trial for the sake of those who are not able to take a glass artd leave it alone. The speaker also referred to the reports that have come to New Zealand of the quantities of liquor being unlawfully sold, and she said that -one had only to take the Government figures of convictions etc., to be convinced of the enormous de-‘ crease since Prohibition has been tried. Dr Armor’s address was full of interest, her brilliance and' wjt such as are possessed by a very few speakers. and her way of treating her subject, showed her to be a practical woman of common-sense, ability and education ,