PROHIBITION FAILURE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1920, Page 1

PROHIBITION FAILURE

CLOSE INVESTIGATION BY U.S. “WETS.” NEW YORK, Mar. 29. The only thing necessary for a person to get liquor is to have its price. This 'is the finding of the Association Opposed to National Proliibiton, whose report was made public to-day. It is the result of a survey of the working of the national prohibition laws. Tile survey further shows that ac cording to the report that “few people in this country/ except prohibition fanatics and those who make a living in trying to perpdtuate the Anti-Saloon League are in favour of constitutional prohibition.” The report summarises the result of the investigation under these four general heads:— 1. Prohibition has been enforced most rigidly where the Prohibition Commissioners believed it could most easily be done or in communities which have been “dry” for many years.

2. There has been little or no attempt at the rigid enforcement of the law in most large cities, because the sentiment of these large _ centres is overwhelmingly opposed to it.

3. Hie' claims of the prohibition advocates that a material decrease in crime would result frpm the working of the law are unfounded, although figures available aro not of a character to enable the statistician to reach any safe conclusion- on the effect on the moraPs of the country. The report declares that there has been a marked increase in big crimes. 4. Breeders, of unrest, class hatred, and labour disturbances have suddenly become ardent prohibitionists and active supporters of the Anti-Saloon League because they found that they can use the amendment as additional evidence of the attempt by the ruling classes to deprive labourers of one other prerogative of freemen.

It is likely that at least two pending Bills to legalise the sale of light wines and beer in New York State regardless of the Federal Law will come up for debate this week.