The Guardian And livening Star, with which is in corporated the West toast limes. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1910 A MORAL BALANCE SHEET.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And livening Star, with which is in corporated the West toast limes. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1910 A MORAL BALANCE SHEET.

Two mleie-ling expel intents in telup,.ranee are now in progress on the North Anicriinn rooumuit. I lie toiled States is endeavouring to enforce legal prohibition of intoxicating Illinois, while the adjoining Dominion ol Canada, or at least the majority ol the provinces in the Dominion, i.s pillowing the line of .strict, government (Clitrol of sales. A New York paper Huts passes its comment. Time will tell which method comes nearer furnishing ihe better solution. That- the Province of (juebec is quite convinced that its plan is worthy of support, and that it is not afraid to proclaim the fact, i.s shown in the large advertisements being issued by the (jucT.ee Liquor Commission virtually a department of the government ol the Province of (jiiebec telling what has happened since the inauguration of governmental sale and regulation. The Commission heads its advertisement:

"Tin* Muml Balance Shi'i't ul Quebec I’roviiu-i*." "In its light light jij4.-iinst tin- abuse uf ;ili'oliulii- li(|U.n-." says tin* Commission. "tin* temperance Icgislat ion uf this province brings iihont ;i ri* lint ii ii ul’ i rimiiiiilitv. It is primarily as a t-t-ni|ic-r:im-t* measure. as a solution of a vexing social problem, that the Liquor Commission was created, and it is from this point of view thiit its success should he considered." The advertisement ones on with an array of statistics taken from police reports of fifteen leading cities. which show that four years ago there were 9.091 arrests for drunkenness as against fi.Kr'i in 1923. Incomplete figures for 1921 reveal ;i further reduction. In fact, complete statistics from .Montreal show 1.218 arrests in 192-1 as nginst (1.303 in 1921. Montreal. it is to he reinemhered. is a city that elaiins a metropolitan population of nearly one million people. To quote again tile Commission’s own words: “An ever-increasing watchfulness, a stringent application of the law and the merciless prosecution of its violators. will year by year produce whole some results, and add still further to the enviable reputation which the Province of Quebec already enjoys for sobriety and moderation. Xo other province in the Dominion can compare with Quebec in its progress towards true temperance." This is interesting; it is also important. The Quote.- liquor law. contrary opinion in many quarters notwithstanding, wai not inaugurated primarily as a re venue-producing statute, although th*. Province finds itself the recipient of four or five million dollars profit each year from liquor sales. A real purpose of the Quebec law was to substitute the use of lighter liquors in place of spirits. To this end very moderate prices are exacted for milder beverages. while spirit- are dispensed at much higher prices. It is said that every bottle of ‘‘hard’’ liquor sold in Quebec represents more in taxes than in contents. Montreal is a FrenchCanadian city, iust as the Province of Quebec i' prepondorately French. Whether nationality has been an element in determining the results of which the T.iquor Commission proud, ly boasts should he taken into consideration. although a definite eonelusion may he difficult. At any rate, the Quebec plan i.- leing copied by other provinces in Canada, and it is spoken of with much respect, and may it he said. envy, on the southern side of the line. That the Quebec liquor policy is not regarded with any degree of hostility by considerable portions of Lucie Sam's population is revealed in the increasing popularity of Montreal as a convention city for -most every sort, of American •**• sat ion. Montreal, indeed, is becoming known os the convention city of North America. "A convention a day’’ is almost liternllv true in the case of the Canadian metropolis. All that Mon-

I real seems to have to do is to invite a convention, and it comes. Some organisations disregard the invitation formality. They come anyway. Drifting from lii|iior statistics into the realm of the automobile world, about half a million American automobiles seek Canadian entry every sea: on. headed toward Montreal with the, total mounting from month to month. Canada may he losing population to the I'nited States, hut a summer census would show a proportion of American visitors domiciled in the Dominica mu It greater than the Canadian How southward. Direful political prophets, usually of the opposition party in Canada, are t»ovailing the fact that Canada is becoming Americanized. No one has yet risen 11(1011 the opposite side i f the border to deplore the Ciuiiulianisation of American citizens.