CASE FOR PROMISITION

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1918, Page 2

CASE FOR PROMISITION

PRESENTED BY CANADIAN* VISITOR. Al.lt SIMPSON AT TOWN HALL.

At, the Town. Hall last evening there was a fair attendance to hear Air James Simpson, the Canadian orator and Labour leader, give his promised iddress on the' question “Ought New Zealand to control or abolish the Liquor Traffic.” The Alayor (ATr G. A- P p,, rv' presided and briefly introduced tin speaker Air W. Dodds, Secretary of the New Zealand Alliance being also on tho platform. . * Air Simpson, who was received with applause, in his opening remarks expressed his personal gratification at the welcome liis colleagues and himself had received in New Zealand, stating lie had been delighted to be able to visit New Zealand and gain an insight of the country and at tlio same time 10 give to the people some insight into the progress of prohibition reform in the northern portion of the American continent. Referring to the progress of the movement for the prohibition of liquor in Canada, Air Simpson proceeded t 0 outline the course of the notation there. He said it was the pn vilege of the delegates from Canada to come here, not to dictate to the people of New Zealand, but to geve particulars of the prohibition of • the traffic in America. The eyes of the world to-day were on America, owing to the rapid progress of the prohi'i"ion of the liquor traffic. They had to go. baclt 40 years to find tlio start of the movement. In Canada there had always been a strong movement in Its favour and he gave many details ;>f the course of the agitation, which had been started by tlio local option move-re nte He delineated bow the agitation bad grown and referred to Hon. Lloyd George’s famous statement, not long after tlie war liad broken out that He three great enemies of 33ritnln weio, Germany t Austria and strong drinV. After tlie war broke out, and the:* was a prospect of U-boats starving the people of Great Britain the first thing tlie Canadian Government nad done to assist in conserving the loot! supply was to close every distilleiy aw brewery in Canada. The constitution of Canada specified, that the Dominion Government could prohibit the ra'e of liquor. Particulars were given of the progress of the movement in the various provinces, commencing with Saskatchewan in 1915. carrying the prohibitory law. In 18 months the people of this province had wiped out tlie whole of the liquor shops and the other provinces soon followed suit, iu. of 1200 municipalities in Quebec province in all hut 90 tlie liquor §hops were 1 wiped out and these go dry in May or next year when Canada will be entire- ! lv free of breweries, distilleries nnu

public houses. In the United States the progress ot the movement wa s equally in tore Ming. Our of 48 States 22 had voted .or prohibition. in addition to 13 States that were alreadv dry and only recently ne Senate had carried by 171 to 43 a bdl in favour of the total prohibition ot tlie traffic and at tlie end of this year all breweries were to close and m .July next all the hotels were to close "hen there would he 130 millions of people without. a brewery distillery or public house. The United States had recognised the danger of the liquor traffic and their soldiers are free from thrum ration, it being conclusively proved that the rum ration was inimical to the welfare of the armies of the --arid. The working men of America have realised that the liquor traffic has »eer -a menace to their prosperity and bad

worked to wipe it out. Intoxicating liquors as a commodity require loss labour and less raw material, than any

other community, the speaker giving many interesting comparisons in 'ogar l to this portion of liis subject. The question of State control was dealt win the speaker pointing out that the Education Department in the elementary schools taught the children the danger of liquor to tho human body, in.l he asked what Government could go and

manufacture and sell liquor when t was a recognised fact that so much loss and crime is traced to the sale and consumption of liquor. If a Government recognise that strong liquor is the cause of crime then why should they enter into the business of the manufacture and sale of liquor. He gave an instance that members of n Painters’ T'liim. had appealed for the prohibition of white lead -in paint because it affected those working it, and asked was it not more essential that liquor 'houki bo prohibited which was the cause of a great deal more damage being done. Dealing with the proposal to pay compensation bo said it would bo far better to pay 4J millions and get rid of tin traffic at onqe than to wait years after a three-fifths vote was larried which might take them another live years to do. He dealt with many phases of the question at great length and appealed to them to vote foi the Efficiency Board's report. (Reference was made to the Liquor Party’s pripo* als and he brushed them away as beyond consideration as entirely undemocratic as while a majority had to vote for either prohibtion with compensation, or for State Control to ensure either proposal to be carried, if neither seen - cd a majority than continuance won, no matter how few voted for it. The Labour Party had now come forward with another proposal, adding prohibition without compensation to the cthei three issues, with preferential voting. He considered this the most democratic proposal that had been made and it had his hearty support and lie i.opeu the would get a vote on their proposals. Mr Simpson concluded an address lasting nearly two hours with an impassioned oration, delivered with great power and feeling, muking an apical for support to wipe out the liquor trn. - fic by giving support to the movement, urging them to try and make the country dry before United States and Cana la. where the voto wa 3 to he given full effect to next July. Mr W. Dobbs (Secretary of the New Zealand Alliance )spoke, briefly and an nouncod a collection would he taken up towards the expenses of the meeting, and also making an appenl for funds towards the big movement.

Mr F. Newman asked a question in reference to the attitude of the Labour Party and invited a further explanation from Mr Simpson on the ub-

jeer who replied at scree length. Tvir Newman asked for some further explanations, explaining his .opinions at some length to which Air Simpson also fully replied. Hie questioner desired to continue the discussion, but a number of those p'resent leaving tho ha;: the ALiyor intimated that it would bo advisable t 0 close the discussion, nndLj invited a motion of appreciation. Air Newman then moved a vote of thanks to Air Simpson for his inspiring address. This was second by Rev. D r . Holloway and carried by acclamation. Air Simpson acknowledged the vote and moved a vote of thanks to the Alayor for presiding which was also lieartry carried and the meeting terminated.