PROHIBITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1920, Page 3

PROHIBITION.

BRITISH COLUMBIA’S REVERSAL. VANCOUVER, Oct. 21. A signal defeat has been registered against prohibition laws by the people of British Columbia, who by a majority of over 25,000 voted for Government control of the sale of liqours in the Western Province, after the prohibition legislation bad proved to all concerned simply a farce, which had produced an increase in drunkenness and “shebeening” on a largo scale in almost all parts of the province. Naturally there was great jubilation among the moderates, who had waged a , vigorous campaign for what they desigi nated “liberty of the subject,” declar- ' ing that the people desired a return of representation of .the acttial will of the electorates. Whilst the prohibitionists had expected to obtain a narrow margin for /the continuance of the prohibition laws in effect, they were astounded at the enormous majorities rolled up in not only the industrial districts of British Columbia, but in the residential districts of the townships there was a totaf sweep of votes in favour of trying Government control, which they considered would prove more efficacious from a temperance point of view than the unworkable prohibition measure which-has been in force in the province. City and country joined in the disapproval of the “dry” law, and in Vancouver alone there was a moderationist majority recorded of over 10,000, with a poll of 36,988, whilst in some of the outlying small settlements the vote stood 15 to one against the dry legislation.

The most frequent question, directly after the tide flowed in favour of moderation was “How long will it be before the new regime will become effective?” According to authoritative sources, it will take severaj weeks, and possibly as much as four months, before the Prohibition Act is displaced by a Government sale law. The present law cannot be repealed, nor a new one enacted without calling the Legislature together. A provincial election is believed to be not far distant, and it is understood the passing of a Government sale law would be one of the first statutes to -be placed on the books for the

province. Although the Government always declined to discuss details of a State sale measure until the people had first expressed a desire for it, there is said to be a general agreement among the members of the British Columbia Government that no private sale of any kind must be permitted. This means that there will be no table licenses, and it may even spell the abolition of the present “near-bear” bars. The plan favoured by the Government is said to he a permit system, whereby any adult citizen may obtain a permit, on the principal of a ration card, entitling him or her to purchase liquor in reasonable quantities for personal and domestic use, upon presentation at tho nearest Government store. It is probable the Government will exact a reasonable fee for the purchase of permits, which may be revoked or suspended for abuse of its privileges, or refused altogether, where adequate reason is shown. In order to lift the administration of the Act as far as possible above the suspicion of political influence and to secure the greatest efficiency, it is understood that the measure to he submit, ted will provide for a public commission t 0 administer the Government Sale Act, comprising representatives of the Moderation and Prohibition parties, as well as representatives appointed by the Government. The Commission, it is understood, will have complete control of the liquor administration.