DRY LAW PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1923, Page 2

DRY LAW PROBLEM.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION. WASHINGTON, November 20. At an Americau-Canadian Conference on Liquor Smuggling to be held on Tuesday, at Ottawa, the United States Government will propose that the.—, clearance- of ships for the United States with liquor cargoes shall he prohibited by Canada, also that the search into smuggling on. the Great Lakes shall be authorised : and further, that a treaty arrangement be made for the extradition of JK-rsrms accused of violating the, liquor laws. SUCCUMB TO BAD LIQUOR. ~ NEW YORK, November 27. The Philadelphia Police and Health Officials are alarmed by the week-end deaths fiom bad liquor, and the number of eases of intoxication.. Both totals are greater than lust week’s, already mhled. The present reports are still incomplete. They indicate eight cases of death, and one hundred cases of people being confined to hospitals, and also five hundred were arrested through drunkenness. The police lutvc learned that a largo consignment of adulterated liquor was sent to Philadelphia by various runners for the holiday season. This is believed to he the cause of tlu- unprecedented situation. The police have issued a warning, declaring that these eight deaths should I-,? a lesson to all patrons of the bootlegger. and that bis whisky is liquid death. U.S.A. OFFICIAL* STATEMENT. NEAY YORK, November 2(5. The ‘‘New York Tribune’s” AYasbiiig-l-.-n correspondent says:—-Hon. Mr .Mellon stated that it is known that rum runners will be seized if caught within 12 miles-' Bruising range of tin shore hereafter and this despite the fact that the Treaty with Britain has not even been submitted to the Senate, much less ratified. Air Mellon says he feels that several daring individuals are fliiuntingly setting the authority and sovereignty of the United States at naught by openly running with liquor. The United States, limit-over, feels there is no contravention of national law occurring, especially in the ease of tiie Tomako. where a vessel was aetunl|\ in touch with the shore, and alicady had bec'ii unloading her cargo of liquor into boats intending to land it. The Treasury Department, does not expect Britain to protest, under the circumstances. The revenue i-uttors hate been given specific direction to look out fer certain runners-, and thesmwil! be pursued within the three-mile limit. SEIZURE OF SHIPS. WASHINGTON. |Xov. |l is announced that the rum schooner Tomako was seized tinder the new Agreement, between the United States ami (Meat Britain, extending tlio territorial sea limit. WASHINGTON. November 27. In connection with the Anglo-Am-erican liquor agreement reached at the recent liquor conference, although the agreement is not yet in treaty form the U.S.A. Treasury officials said that they regarded the principles involved as being accepted by the two Governments. and the revenue cutter service has been proceeded with, on that basis, in milling the Tomako to be seized. There are now indications that tho position of the U.S.A. Treasury ' will not lie suppeiied by the State Department. and Die ship may be released, unless her seizure is justified on other grounds. In the opinion of the British I'.m-1-assv. the provisions of the Treaty could not be considered in force until it i; signed.

PRESBYTERIAN VIEWS. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 27. A deputaimi from the New Zealand Alliance waited on the Presbyterian General Assembly to-night. In welcoming the deputation, the Acting Moderator (Rev. M. McAra) said:—“l assure yon the Presbyterian Church is in sympathy with the great movement for tho freeing of New Zealand from the fearful curse of the drink traffic. The Presbyterian Church is unite sound and soli' l 011 this matter. The Assembly passed the following deliverance :—That the Presbyterian Assembly appoint the second Sunday in November as a temperance Sunday, and renew the recommendation to Sunday School Superintendents and Teachers to give attention to the training ol the young in total abstinence principles, and to give them an opportunity of signing a temperance pledge; and also request the Government to introduce legislation eliminating the State purchase and control issue lrom the referendum. so that a vote may he taken between prohibition and continuance. The Assembly strongly protested against any attempt to introduce licenses into the King Country, and earnestlv calls upon tlie Government to keep faith with the Maoris by maintaining the compact made in 1831-85 and to take necessary measures for preventing illegal sale of liquor in that tcriitorv. ‘‘Wo protest against any effort, being mad" to have the question of “Corporate Control” placed upon the ballot- paper ns a third issue. Wo request Parliament to resist this effort, in view of the fact that there is no evidence of any demand for this issue by any considerable section of people.” During a debate. Rev. J. Milne (Thames) moved an amendment that the clause requesting the elimination of State purchase and control issue l>e erased. The first ground of his request, he said, was justice. Thirty thousand people had voted for State Control, and it was a surer thing than ever that, in Cod's good time, they would yet see til,- liijuor traffic under State control. Cries of: “Never! Never! !” ft was a question of justice, he said, to the thirty thousand that the State ( nutrol issue should be loft in. Prohibition was right down in the teeth cl liberty. Rev. Milne tried to continue, hit the Moderator had rung the hell. There were cries of “time! time! ' and stamping of feet, so he had to ;otiro • No one seconded Rev. Millie s amendment, and it was dropped.