THE DANGERS AND FOLLIES OF PROHIBITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1922, Page 1

THE DANGERS AND FOLLIES OF PROHIBITION.

Sir,—l would respectfully suggest that it would he a splendid thing for New Zealand if the prohibitionists and liquor party would meet and arrange to postpone the licensing election for, sav, ton years, and in the meantime hand over the money collected to fight the election to the unemployed funds in the various towns. It must he clear to all who have seriously considered the subject- that prohibition could not he enforced even If carried.

Tn America the army anil navy are assisting the prohibition party, ami still liquor flows into that country, and T notice in to-day’s issue of the London “Daily Telegraph ” that the New York correspondent writes to say that the law is chiefly instrumental in creating a boot-leggers’ and smugglers paradise. 1 found no difficulty in obtaining anv quantity of the highest whisky, but thinking hotter quality might he procurable through a medical man, I sent for a prescription, and got one or two bottles without even having the pleasure of meeting the doctor. 1 wonder how the prohibitionists prepose to patrol the coast, or if they realise that, it would cost millions jx'r annum to keep the country dry from without, not to mention the trouble from within. The Americans have been forced to allow their steamers to carry liquor, for otherwise passengers would not travel hv them. YV hy should people who have been accustomed all their lives to a glass of wine or beer with their meals he forced to go without it? At present thousands of Americans are coming to I'.ngland. and the numbers "ill increase as the private supnlies of liquor are consumed—a splendid asset for Tlngland if only prohibition is retained in America, which is unlikely.

(To the Editor of the “Lyttelton Times.”)

The Swedish Government has experienced the same troubles as America, and wo are told that if the police hear people laughing they rush into a house thinking the jov must he artificially produced.

1 sincerely trust that the people of .Vow Zealand will take more interest ui this important question, for if prohibition is carried the . taxation will he more than we can stand. The workers will have to pay income fax owing to a reduced exemption, and great, unrest will follow throughout file country. The best class of tourists will not visit our country, and commerce generally will he seriously injured, for no steamers registered in the Dominion will he allowed to carry wino or beer, and a large proportion of the trade will he diverted via Australia.

AVe should encourage the building of ’ first-class hotels throughout the Dominion, and generally do everything possible to attract visitors to our shores—a most valuable trade and one that a country so favoured ns ours should have a full share of. 1 have taken un much of your valuable space, hut Use matter seems to me so urgent and so important that if ccc'SKurv the coming election should he fought on the question of license •>r no-license, and the terrible unrest it has caused would he banished for ever. Much would depend on the result. more especially in regard to finance. The London money market is verv sensitive when extremists are in control, and prohibited New Zealand "•mid find great difficultv in borrowing on such favourable terms as were "Maim’d for the lean lately floated.— 1 am. ele..

•T. TL 11DTD Knglnnd, August 1-ttli.