Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1922, Page 2

So-('ALr.F.i) prohibition of the liquor traffic seems to ho falling in unpleasant lines. In America, particularly, the attempt to enforce prohibition has admittedly failed. This is brought home by the fact that a "Washington message on Friday stated Mr Ralph Bay, Prohibition Director of New York, had resigned his office, because he and his (■■jtaff were not equal to preventing evasions of the law. That, at least, was holiest. The position thus revealed hears out the statements published of late that prohibition does not prohibit. Its attempted enforcement everywhere seems to result in a free license for a class of liquor traffic which is altogether objectionable, and is a menace to the welfare of the people. Revenue is lost. Expenditure is augmented in the fruitless effort to stop illicit sales. Rutworst of all. vile concoctions are trailed which cause insanity, create prime and undermine the health and morality of the people. Prohibition prated about as a blessing, is a curse, and developments in the United States point all too sadly to such a conclusion. Then again, in America there are the the Government revelations as to the increase of the drag habit, which in the United States has so alarmed the officials that the President of the States is being urged by his advisers to call a world congress to deal with the matter. America has prohibition against the importation of opium, but is unable to keep it out , any more tlian it cun keep out liquor- -which <ou.es in on. under and over the water, to the disgust and defeat of the army of officials at war against the trade. Norway, likewise lias experienced tin* failure of prohibition to prohibit, and even the lender of the Prohibit! r.i Party :n that country admits the defeat and r. movement is afoot to repeal prohibition. Tt is interesting to have this accumulating evidence against prohibition at this juncture, as the knowledge will help the jieople of the Dominion to cast a more intelligent vote ut the referendum in December next. The matter is one for the people to determine and apart from any party considerations. A great deal of sophistry is talked about prohibition—-that is too apparent now. As the Norwegian prohibition leader sins, the dream is illusory. The matter requires to lie looked at from all point's of view, and above all from that of the national well-be-ing. True government is the greatest good for the greatest number, and it is a matter of realising whether prohibition can at all fit in with that scheme. The experience of prohibition countries suggests rather pointedly that it cannot.

Titk topical political items mentioned by our Wellington correspondent in his interesting letter published Inst Friday, suggests in the North Island, rather than the- South Island, matters are warming up. Tt is interesting to note that our old friend Air McClure has a promising outlook for the Otnki sent, as his election would ensure another friend for the Coast. Generally speaking the Liberal party is securing a fine stamp of public man for many of the -seats it is contesting, and it would appear that the battle is being so ordered that the Liberals will gain several seats. This appears to ho the prosoo'ts in the North Island, where the onmenign is in more definite shape. The reference to the South Island seats ■bi tb.. le He a under ”<'*t?ce, fs to OVlku fhuHii nihi Tiliiwn. In rt’icol

to tl’.o former it seems to he hinted that Mr Isitt, hitherto a stalwart Liberal, is likely to break from the fold. He has a strong Labor candidate out against him. and Air Isitt is not too comfortable at the prospects. Hence he appears to he shaking in his loyalty to the party he has for so long and j with some ability espoused. AVe can hardly contemplate Air Isitt, though as a loyal Reformer, and a fighter for Conservative principles! The other seat is that of Timaru which Air Crnigie is giving up. A Reform candidate is out, but if as suggested Sir Joseph Ward should elect to stand (which is very doubtful) the seat could be retomnfl T.i Imrnl