MR CHAMBERLAIN ON PROHIBITION

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1616, 1 December 1905, Page 2

MR CHAMBERLAIN ON PROHIBITION

At an immense meeting held In Bmglei Hall, Birmingham, to protest against 1b Direot Veto Bill, Mr Chamberlain,- whi was received with eheere,.amid .{—l-an delighted to see this magnificeat meeting —(Cheers). ... This bill, is a oiasi meaente in the strongest sense : of thi word. It affects the poor— (“ Shane IV) —it does not affeot the riob.—(Hear. hear. It interferes with the poor mau.in hie cod venienoe, in his comfort, in ell tbt arrangements of hie life; it does not toncl the home of the man who haß property Oi his own. Well, I think it is a etraoge ii lustration of this new Badioilism of wbiot we bear so muoh—this -new Badicalisai which professes each a regard for ths opinions and the interests of the workin) olasees that the moment they begin t( legislate they show that they are novel happy unless in some way or other they arc restricting the liberties or diminishing the pleasures of the dess that they pretend to oare for.—(Loud cheers.) Now, for the sake of argument, lot us suppose that it is a good thing to etop ell drinking, Let us take for the moment the view.-oS our temperance friends, and let us say that it would be a good thing if in this country from to morrow there should -not' bo hde single-drop of intoxicating liquor sold 'Or used.:-' - But if -that*:;iai' to r be said, if that is the object of the tern* peranoe party, they ought to prohibit: ths sale, the importation, and tho manufacture of liquor.—(Cheers and dries Of ,l Go it, Joey; ” “ Lay on them.”) Then, at all events, their polioy will bB logical, it would, be consistent, and it would-be complete. Then, at all events, you would have a so» lution of the drink question, for there would be no more drink. 3ul- ! tbat is not what they do—by this bill; They- leave untouched the importation of wincej they leavo untouched the wholesale.eales; and the only thing they.put their fingers! Optrais the publiohousc and the is to say, upon the'portion ofthe trade by which'the working classes a*e supplied,—• (Cheers.). Gentlemen, it is perfectly extraordinary what care this Radical Go. vernment has of the prejudices and the oomfort of the propertied (Laughter.) , , . Did you ever bear anythiog so absurd ? Here is the.' man with £5 In hie pocket, and having • that,, whether he is at home or whether he is* at business, at all times and under all ois> oumstanocs he can get bis liquor, and as muoh of it as he likes, and the only poreoq who is tonohed by this bill is the working

mat), who cannot get his beer.—(Cheers, and a voice, " Throw it at ’em, Joey!”) WOULD THE BILL PROMOTE TEMPERANCE ? - Now, in the first place, there is no doubt shut this would be a great inconvenience io what I may call the moderate drinker —the man who likes a glass of beer with tie meals whenever he can get it fresh rom the publichouse.—(“ Shame 1”) Bnt chat would bo the case of the drunkard ? Vhy, he would get his liquor just the amq;—(Hear, hearj,} [He would bef. Bbje a go across the border to get into the next rard, and there be would find all he 'anted. He would be able to join a bogus. ciub, which would be oreated purely and sololy for drinking purposes.—(Laughter,}) JTHE EXPERIENCE' OP RE- ' STBIOTIVE lAWS. ‘ Well, what .is the experience jjf these ;estriotive laws in othercoUntriesln whioh ihey have been tried? I made some'in* juiries when I was in Canada and in the United Slates, and in both these oountrieevbere legislation of this bind has been atempted on a largo ecale the testimony .of ill impartial persons ia universally that it tae only led to the grossest evasion.Hear, hear.)—and also to what is very nuoh to be regretted a large increase in irivate drinking.—-(Hear, bear.) - . I say-; 3 hat this bill is not a temperance bill; it ii ' i.eham,— (Hear, hear.) '