PROHIBITION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 66, 15 September 1896, Page 2

PROHIBITION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sis,—" With a childlike simplicity truly refreshing " I wish to reply to that very superior person, Mr Roots. I challenge him toiprove that drunkenness has increased in the Clotha electorate. Prosecutions for sly grog selling do not p rove that drunkenness is on the increase. A few months ago I was in the Clotha district, and was informed hy those whe were not Prohibitionists that there w«re lues cases of drunkenness than before Prohibition was carried. Mr W. Whitefield, of Tapanui, writing to the press, says " When Prohibition came in in Clutha the borough of Tapanui had a considerable overdraft, and it was thought that Prohibition wonld prevent at any rate the wiping off the overdraft. A cry was made that fresh overdrafts would have to be obtained, and fresh taxation was imposed, making the rate Is 3d. Soon after it was decided on the motion of a temperance councillor that the rate be reduced to Is, and at the end of the financial year —March 31st last — the overdraft was completely wiped off, and i'Bo placed to the credit of the Council in the bank." Mr McNab, M.H.R., informed his audience at Bongotea a week ago last Saturday that the Post Office Savings Bank deposits in Clutha had considerably increased since Prohibition was carried. Evidently Prohibition is not ruining Clutha. Prohibition may not yet entirely prohibit in Clutha, just as our laws against thieving have not yet suppressed that crime. Re Maine and the splendid success achieved there by Prohibition, let Mr Roots study the facts given in my address as reported in Saturday's Stab. Mr Roots makes the astounding assertions that " The evils of total Prohibition, are increased drunkenness, laic-breakinn and hypocrisy. How drunkenness can increase under total Prohibition no sane man can say. There might be drunkenness under partial Prohibition. I maintain that law expenses would decrease if Prohibition was carried. This happened in America, W. M. Rowney, Probate Judge of Mitchell County, writes: "When the saloons were open about three-fourths of all the cases in the Police Court were drunks, and many of the other cases originated from the use of liquor. The Police Court now scarcely pays the rent of the office, our gaols are empty, and crime is on the decrease." C. B. Huffman, Probate Judge of Pofctawatomie County, Kansas, writes: " The saloon revenue paid to the State and Counties under the license law was insignificant compared with the decrease in crime and the reduction of costs in criminal cases. Our gaol has not a single occupant." J. T. Sanders, of Sumner County, writes: " Under license we had fifteen saloons in this city (Wellington) of 10,000 inhabitants and the same number of marshals and police officers. Now we have but one marshal and he finds but little to do." Judge Waters, of Bourbon County, writes: " Since the abolition of the liquor traffic our city (Fort Scott), has prospered as she never did under the saloon system. When Prohibition went into effect we bad a population of only about 5000 with 22 saloons. We now have 15,000 and our police force is not so large as in the days of the saloon." Surely the Judges of the State ought to know how Prohibition works, certainly as well as Mr Roots. I am, &c-, J. Cocker.