THE TEST.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 778, 24 October 1922, Page 5

THE TEST.

(By J. W. Qlphert, M.A., F.R.E.S.) • The national utility of any inudstry must ever be judged by results. If it confers upon the community some material benefit: if it increases the comfort and health of the people; if enriches the heart or enobles the mind; if it enlarges the, sum total of human welfare and happiness, then it haa not only to justify its ■ existence but also to merit its. exten'A sion. But judged by this eternal igst, what can be said of the results of the Liquor Traffic? It costs the people £7,500,000 per annum. In 1020 it rushed 5105 distinct persons L into the arms of the law for drunkon- * ness; it caused 1440 of these to be charged with oilier offences; it carried into hospitals 339 persons suffering from alcoholism, 17 of these died; it banished 64 people lo mental hospitals; it hurried into Stale welfare institutions 86 children because either their mothers or their Others or both were too drunken to look after them; last year it caused 118 prosecutions for selling liquor to youths under 21 years; it helped to effect an increase of 265 convictions for failing to maintain wive ; s and families; it caused an increase of 51 convictions for selling liquor after closing hours: an increase of 70 convictions for supplying persons under 21 years: and an increase Of 307 convictions for being on licensed premises after hours. In the face of these evil results what good word can be said of the Liquor Traflie? It squeezes into the coffers of the Slate £1,300,000, and with a grin stuffs into its own pocket £6,000,000 per annum. It finds employment for a number of people but pays the poorest wages of any industry in the country. It takes your good money and then insults you by telling you you’ll become a dope fiend if Prohibtion is carried.. Well, ask yourself if it increases your happiness or the real happiness of your home. Does it make you a more efficient worker?, Does it increase, the efficiency of the country l ? Does it make you larger in heart or purer, in mind? Does it make you or the country richer? Is its continuance essential to the future efficiency, health, wealth, prosperity and happiness of the country? The Liquor Traffic in name, in nature, in function and in effects is associated with the vilest arid most inhuman

things which ever debased human so--4 cicty anfj sent men hurtling into the “'gutter and the grave. It is the close associate of the Slave Traffic, the Opiu in/Traffic, and the White Slave Traffic. You can no more regulate it than you can regulate a mad dog. The only way lo deal with it is to kill it, and the.sooner the better.*