Prohibition in America.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1921, Page 4

Prohibition in America.

AN UNFAVOURABLE REPORT. LONDON. September 29. Messrs C. H. Kitch and John Davison. Labour members of the Hous,> of Common*, visited the I'nited States to report on Prohibition. In their report Ihev sav they went with open minds impressed with the' idea that Prohibition was an unmixed blessing. With this view they can no longer siyrei*.

They found the anti-liquor law agitating industry in Ameriea to an unexampled degree. •*fn our judgmentthey say. “Prohibition as we had been led to believe it prevailed, does not exist; but tin* Prtdiihit ion law has resulted in an enormous development fo home brewing and wine-making. Illicit stills are quite eoininon in private houses, the necessary apparatus being purchasable at. stores. We riotis&mtly observed Iniiness men producing pocket Masks liquor. A serious element in private brewing i> the opportunity afforded to the t-umiiioii informer, than whom there is no personality, except the blackmailer. that is more odious to uien.

•‘We wore assured that whereas formerly. business men were content to tiikc* an occasional drink in the saloons they are now iu tin* habit- of taking quantities of liquor to their ofiiecs for private consumption. Scotch whisky in dozens can be obtained for ninety dollars a ease. Though we were only able to procure soft drinks when visiting saloons alone, we found no difficulty in procuring alcohol when accompanied by persons known to the saloon-keepers. warned of the poisonous nature of these concoctions uv refrained from drinking them, hut partook of alcohol in private houses. America is described as the “hi >ut loggers’ paradise.” “Saloons have had an evil reputation, and in their old odious form they will imt return, hut we believe the American public will demand facilities to buy liijit wines and beers. “We were furnished with a great ma-s of material showing the heavy increase in personal savings, and tin* development of business and ol food .and clothing stores, which are attributed to Prohibition. Many huiness men assert that their workmen are better timekeepers. We are not disposed to accept these assertions as unchallonooahle; indeed, we have been supplied w ith data rebut lino them. We think much of th,» alleged improvement lias U*on due to the trade lnxm at the end of the war. >?mv ' ••*» is a dilfer-

out slate of affairs. There are nearly six million unemployed in American staple industries." The report, points out. that the American Federation of 'l abour Convention at Denver .City unanimously protested against Prohibition and demanded a modified form in order to permit the manufacture of wholesome boor.