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Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1924, Page 2

Saskatchewan. by a decisive majority, lias Voted for ii modification of her tern) era nee act. The province of Ontario. will, by plebiscite, on October 23 next, decide whether prohibition shall eontinue or ho abolished. ’I he ancient colony, Xewlotindlair.L which is independent' of the Dominion of Canada, is getting ready to take similar action. This leaves, or may leave, the Maritime Vrovinces as the only arid spare north of the international line. The experiment put in force bv the Province of Quebec, of keeping the distribution of liquor within (Jovernmeul control and selling it at a public JUofit promises to spread until it embraces the whole of Canada. If is not generally known that the treaty negotiated directly between Canada and the V nited States dealing with co-operation in the enforcement of the prohibition law is not operative, owing to the failure of the American Senate to ratify the agreement'. 'lbis tact was brought otti in a debate in the House of Commons at Ottawa only the other day. Should modification of prohibition be ordered or sanctioned in Ontario in October. Hie four thousand mile boundary line, with the exception of the stretch idling the Muiitime l’lovinees. will .sharply define wet and dry territory. Naturally, the problem of enforcing the law on the southern side if the line will he made a little more difficult, bill the Dominion has respected the right of her neighbor lo enact .sumptuary legislation, and has <nopeialed at all times in etfoils to make tliis law effective. Her willingness to negotiate a treaty giving the I'uited States unusually liberal international privileges in this particular is sull'c ient evidence. Failure to make the treaty operative lies at the door of the American Senate ilseli. It is well that the two countries hold each other in such high e-teem and neighborly regard. Otherwise points of .1 rid mi might he expected to intrude themselves ofteller into th- situation. At it is these are infrequent and arc

minimised in a spirit of friendship am -unity. There must lie a million ( ana dians in the I'niled States more or lepermaliently located and the nunihc of Americans in the Dominion is [nine thing around the same figure. Ihi does not take into ciii'sidci alum the ini incuse tourist travel I rein the l oitei States into Canada during the Mimmo season. The two countries are begin ning t i know each other as never be fore.

Tin. present political position in New Xenia ml whereby the Government holds ntPiee bv a very slender majority guaranteed by two Canterbury members wlm were some time prominent l.dier:,u. bos assisted to all interesting position. It is now suggested seriously that one of the uum! or v. ho is bound to llio Government by a ill finite pledge, should let ire unless the Ministers carry nut definite promises to electrify the l.vltclloil tumid and tic community -lum'd (ii-,ii . rale lo allni.l lie m inhcr I lie oppe t unity ol re-e'cdioli wiiholll opposition and fne o! Ihe lormer : loci inn pledge. II this were to mmc to pass it would mean that the (fiivcritiiii'iit would then he without a majority and the end of tlie Ministry would he in sight. The suggestion is the md- ( lilllc of the (fin d nlucnt delay and

worse, in regard to fulfilling is in give reasonable (onsideralion

('a olet bui'v. There i.s no doubt that province, as indeed (ilhei palls oi the Suit!h Island, are being neglected, i! not ignored, at times by the Hovel'llincut to the advantase ol the North Island which has been for long ieaj ing a rich harvest of pi cp crity. due l< (fin ernii'eiit favours. In lie eircim f ~l,l'll 'in i wII eh• .■ I b

[ml ij]» ;i big li l l t*>r il • I'iyhl.s. and lln* suggestion ihi I t‘s 1 lull at leas! ('ante bury li.-is its hack t'i the wall Mini is j.:«•>:stft;! to imt up ;t light which v. ill lie uni Ml till niisiiu.'iTstm:il. On .M<iml:iy night there is to lie m pnlili ■ mictiiog in Clni-t. luir. It v.itli the object of demons!rating public feeling on l!m quest ion of cle: tl'.ii \ illg tin* l.yitolt;m tuniml. Ilm iif".ossdy lot' attcntioii to tin* matter is long overdue. Tlio grimy nature o!' 11 it* tmiiu'l tr:i(litis ;i rclli'ctioii on tlio good manageim'iit of t!m railways, Mini tlio cintditions foi - trnvcllr's tire so Ji'piohonsil.li*. tlim! itt’Mfl from tlm |,:oiiiises, tin* I)i*]';ii‘tmoilt sliouM of its own volition. I o moved to Met in tlm matter. As tlm ].«>■ till’ to Caiilorliiiry tin 1 tunnel in its [losotit .slate is mii infliction. Mini looking to tlm comfort Mini i onvi-nifij: f* provided by tlm olocl rilieution of the Arthur's I’i'ss tunnel. tlm people of C.’iiiilctbury. imli'i'il of tlm South Island generally, .sliouM demand tlm same attention to tlm 1 -vlli*lton tuniml.