PROHIBITION SEQUELS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1922, Page 3

PROHIBITION SEQUELS

ONTARIO SEEKING -MODERATION

VANCOUVER, March 16. There is no denying the fact that a huge percentage of the people of Canada is convinced the enormous traffic in bootlegging in the Dominion will never he lessened or wiped out entirely until a system of Moderation—such as is in force in British Columbia—spreads to all other parts of Canada where prohibition is now half-heartedly in operation.

For long the Province of Ontario, the most populous of the Dominion, lias been. pointed to as the best-controlled prohibition province, but this idea rested principally in the minds of the advocates of prohibition in the country. The police records and daily Press portray a somewhat different tinge from the picture of actualities aiiTl significant indeed is a new movement initiated by tlie people of Ontario to secure some change from the present operation of the Ontario Temperance Act, or “0.T.A..” as it is generally designated for brevity.

I The other day petitions signed by some 208,000 citizens of the Province were laid before Premier Drury by the ' Moderation League of Ontario, headed by I. F. Hellmutli, K.C., President. It was stated that this was only the first hatch of signatories to he laid before j the Provincial Government on the subject. The petition, to which the Premier promised consideration, read, in part, as follows: ‘‘We believe that tiie ' cause, of Christian temperance and of stabilised democracy can lie best served : 1) By Government control of the sale of spirituous liquors, and, if necessary, a widely-devised licensing of individuals to purchase spirituous liquors. (2) By the treatment of those who have not the strength to take care of themselves under such conditions as patients, not as criminals. (3) By permission to purchase beer and wines under a system to be determined by the Government, thus minimising the evil of illicit stills and the illegal sale of spirituous liquors and drugs. We are not advocating a return to the ‘open bar.’ “ I) By the formation of a voluntary organisation similar to the Blue Ribbon Army in Great Britain, whereby all available energies and funds may lie devoted to the promotion of true

temperance by education and example.” “We ask,” the petition continued,

“that you provide a means for an expression of opinion on the question of Government control. We further ask that the Ontario Temperance Act he amended as above, so that the conscientious serupples, right - ami liberties of the people of this province may be fully protected against an organised minority, and accused persons shall not be deprived as they ate now, of the sacred right of every British subject to lie considered innocent, until he is found to he guilty I'lN FORt KM ENT ADVOCATES BUSY.

The prohibition forces of Ontario lost no time in a counter-offensive, for the following day they were visiting Premier Drury, lo whom a deputation from the Dominion Alliance convention waited upon Mr Drury and the Attor-ney-General, requesting further tightening up on the prohibition of native wines.

The Premier, in his stat-micnt to the deputation, indicated that the efforts of the Provincial Government would lie direcLed toward better and still better enforcement of the existing law. rather than amendment of existing laws. To go faster than public sentiment sanctioned, intimated Hon Mr Drury, might tend to weaken rather than strengthen the law.

“J have been a teetotaller all my life,” declared the Premier, “hut we must consider whether it is expedient to change the law. You all know of the great assaults being made on the O.T.A. from the other side during the la si two years. Yesterday we had a pile of petitions that looked like a lot of laundry packages from people asking for amendments in the law that would loosen it up.

"The improvement of the law is. p rluips, not the immediate thing to he bettered so much as the cniorcement ol the law. . . . Let us enforce the law as the people have suggested.” he eoneluded, in referring to the present law as decided upon by the electorate. "The Ontario Temperance Act is on trial, and lot us make sure of what we have already gained before we go any further.”

The Rev Ren Spence, the principal speaker of the deputation, presented to ike Premier a memorial endorsing the programme presented to the Government by the Alliance Legislative Cmninifee a month previously, and this included a declaration against native vines, the reduction of the alcoholic content of temperance beer to 1 per cent proof spirit. Arguments were advanced for curbing home-brewing, and for the application of restrictions to the sale of liquor for medicinal purposes and its use in private homes.

The Alliance secretary indicated his lack of faith in the attachment of any considerable amount ol weight to the petition signed by over 200,000 people, presented to the Government by the .Moderation League. "1 could go out with a petition to hang the AttorneyGeneral,” he said, “and get more names than that.”

“Our purpose is not simply to do away with the greater evils of intemperance,” added the Rev Ben Spence. "We seek to abolish alcoholism from the race. Alcoholism is a racial poison ; the more of it gets into a people, the snore degeneracy there will fie in the next race. We are opposed to liquor, whether sold over the bar, by the bootlegger, or no matter how it is sold.” *«»«• ***>K*>m_ •=»-

times ns many as it kills, year after year. The apathy of both the public and the officials in connection with this disease is tragic, and almost incredible. Conferences have been held; resolutions passed; promises made; and there the effort lias ended- Consumption will never he eradicated from New Zealand unless something in the. nature of a defined and active policy is initiated. The hoard held over the report for consideration at next meeting.