CANADIAN BOOTLEGGERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 191, 30 August 1937, Page 7

CANADIAN BOOTLEGGERS

Serious Problem Faces Mounted Police AMERICAN ENTERPRISE (From Our Own Correspondent.) YANCOUVER, Aug. 4. Canada has gradually become a new sanctuary for American liquor racketeers, who were deposed when prohibition was repealed. The Commissioner of the Koyal Ganadian Moufited Police, Major-General Sir James MacBrien, says it is the inost serious problem which confronts his force. "Since the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment,,, he says, in his annual report, "and the establishment of the United States Aicohol Tax Enforcement Unit, whose members have been vigorous in eradieating illieit liquor manufacture in the vicinity of the border, seizures in Canada of large commercial stills tend to show that many of the operators, with American fiuancial interests behind them, are endeavouring to establish themselves in Canada.'7 When legal liquor flowed in United States, after the failure of tho "noble experiment," it paid heavy tribute in excise, which naturally led to a revival of the illieit manufacture that prospered since 1920. When the new Federal department caused the liquor interests considerable loss in funds and liberty, they moved across the border. It proved to be a profitable step; from rnan'y angles. Dominion excise taxes are high, and the price of liquor is correspondingly high, whicfi means a proinpt market for the bootlcgger. The Canadian preventive force is iuadequate to cope with the new traflic. In Detroit alono there are more members of the new Federal unit than there are mounted police in tho whole of Ontario. Unlimited funds at tho disposal oi" the Amcricau racketcers make it possible to spend large surns in camoulluging their plants. The Mouuties rebently raided a country mausiofi, 20 miles from Toronto. They , were met at the door by a white-jacketed butler and bowed into a speoioua reception room, where they were presently joincd by the tenant of Ihe bouse. Hq leadily admitted the presence of a still on the ptemises. He had been persuaded, on a promise of liberal rent, to sublet several rooms to two foreigners. He was well and favourably known to his neighbours, wliom lie entertained. One of them was curious at the comprehensjve system of plumbing and tho presence of two water lines. That led tc the seizure of the plant. The liquor bosses never appear on the promises, and cannot be overthkdn by the law. Operators who are captured are employees. Their fines are promptly paid, and they receive a handsome bonus for the three oionths they spdnd in prison.