PROHIBITION AS SAW IT

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1922, Page 1

PROHIBITION AS SAW IT

BY AN AUSTRALIAN. (From “Sydney Bulletin.”) “In here.” said my Western Amerioan friend. One of the big old-time bar-rooms, brass-footrails and bottles complete—Scotch, rye, and gin to order. Above u s the office building lilted its 15 or 20 storeys ; and the two bartenders were busy with the tenants. “Prohibition?” said niv friend. “Forget it.” Wa forgot it. “In here.” A restaurant and danceroom, silent and empty in the daylight. My friend led its to the room behind the bar. Further choice of Scotch nnd rye, and an introduction to a police-official and a Judge. We forgot Prohibition once more. The office of one of those Westerners, who are so like Australians that the only apparent difference is a few tricks of speech. A great strongroom occupying almost all of one wall, massively doored as if for a public deposit. The Westerner, a cheerful soul, with the directness of an outback Australian .the brick-red face that comes of sunlight nnd wine, dark Spanish eves, and the small black moustache ol the Spaniard, agreed that under Prohibition the American nation had lost much of its choerfulness; but believed Prohibition to be a good thing. “I don’t say,” said he, “that it has made for more efficiency, the joss we worship. Big Business yells for it in its rank nnd file, hut Big Business doesn’t want ctfficienoy in its own methods. There’s more easy money in waste manipulation. Rockfeller knew what he was about when he put up a million dollars for the Anti-Saloon League. Tf ho gets a dollar a man of hotter servico a year his million <b-l bars go hack to him. Then he has a big drug-store holdings and prohibition has made drug-stores a gilt-edged investment. All the liquor on prescription is sold through drug-stores at--300 per cent, over the pre-Prohil>ition prices ; drug stores sell soft drinks and ice cream and candy, and Prohibition has increased candy sales larvond all imagining, because people have to get their alcohol in some form or other. T wouldn’t ho surprised to find thnl prohibitionists own the thousands of pastry shops that have sprung up ail over the States since Prohibition came in the pastry shops that are making New Yorkers as fat as Fifth-avenue Jews. Still, it is good for the work-ing-class, I think, on the whole. You’ll come back to lunch? right! 1 won’t bo able to see you Sunday till the afternoon. It’s my Sunday for the gin-maker to call. . . Yes. he makes his rounds regularly, and next Sunday’s my day. . . T have the ingredients ready, and he comes horn once a month and makes my supply. T keep it for business acquaintances; hut I have something better for a real friend.” He crossed to the strongroom, unlocked the great door and threw it open. The safe deposit was full of bottles of gin, brandy, Scotch and rye and corn whisky, of Cresto Blanco, and excellent chnblis of California, and claret and burgundy of France. “A cocktail ?” said tho Westerner, and made two. “But Prohibition's good for the working classes,” said I.

“I Toll!” replied the Westerner. “We’re not working-classes. Drink hearty. . . and you’ll have a dry time on tlif train. . . T'll send n maple of bottles of elaret to your hotel.” Prohibition is fine for the workingclasses; but if bits only one class, although all classes can get liquor by paying three times its value. The profits must bo enormous, although the payment for immunity is high, but the traders regard is as double licensee fee—the national revenue losing licenso money, Customs duties on imported liquors now smuggled, and incometax on the earnings of the traffi kers. The working-classes get the bad liquor although wood-alcohol can outstep the boundaries for it and kill the rich, too. by virtue of poison sold with a forged label and at a price which of itself inspires confidence. Two millionaire brothers—automobile Wamifar-tuivs—-were killed that way. dying of one quiet card-party with a few diinks to it * (To lio continued).