Prohibition.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1922, Page 4

Prohibition.

A PROBLEM FOR PARLIAMENT. (Lyttelton “Titties” Correspondent) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. The' member for AVairau told the Prime Minister to-(la,v that it was his bounden duty to have! given a lend in his Budget to the people, who wished to know what would happen to the public finance if, prohibition were carried in DecembeY.

w. Massey: If prohibition is carried we would call Parliament together. Mr M’Callum went on to say that although there were people anxious that “this terrible traffic” should be suppressed conditions were such that the Finance Minister should hnve warned the country that it would he an extremely dangerous thing to carry prohibition. Tf it was carried, they should know where the 2£- millions of lost revenue from liquor would be made up. Tt would come either from reducing the income tax exemption to £201) and making a levy on Governmen and other debenture holders with largo incomes. The Prime Minister, lie knew, would call this confiscation, but all taxation was the same. He regretted that the Prime Minister lacked courage to deal in the Budget with the possibility of prohibition being carried He seemed to prefer Mr Asquith’s policy of “wait and see.”

Mr Massey: Do you want me to tell them how to vote? (Laughter). Mr M’Callum: You cannot dictate to people how to vote, but you could tell them the consequences.