A FARCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1926, Page 4

A FARCE.

piiomimrox ix f.s.a

SAX FRAXCJSCO, Dee. 15. On his return to England after a prolonged visit to the United States, Sir William Arhuthnot bane, the most eminent consulting surgeon of Britain, says America has saved Great Britain from the ridiculous farce of prohibition. This was the tenth visit of the distinguished surgeon to the U.S.A., and according to a cablegram to Xew York, Sir William found liquor plentiful and

much of it was poisonous. Ke was as- ' touished to find more drunks on uio street, in prohibition American than in wet Engand. From a medical standpoint he condemned prohibition because “it put in the mouths of the poor liquor which drives them mad.’ He said Americans despise the law. “Prohibition is a farce which cannot continue,” said Sir William, basing, his opinion on discussion with American medical men and his own observation.

“The American people are extraordinarily intelligent, and I beleve that the public’s common sense will force a change in the law, probably a coinpromise whereby the sale ot wine and beer would be legalised. “A law which the people despise and which makes respectable people law breakers cannot be a good law. The mass of the people feel submerged. They know they were over-ruled by a small body of opinion. . r . 1 “I am selfishly glad that prohibition is being tried in the United States, be-

cause its utter failure will prevent such, ridiculous stunts .ever being tried here in Britain. The American experiment has shown the absurdity of such, legislation. Now there is no danger of anyone putting it over in Britain. “People do not drink too .much here, and they do drink too much in the United States. You. can get liquor anywhere there. I saw more drunkenness in a. month there than I have seen in two years here. American liquor, moreover is poisonous. The rich get good liquor and the poor get poison which harms them infinitely more than good alcohol would if it were sold openly. “American doctors told me that the hospital wards were full of suffering people who had been driven mad by poisonous liquor. It had made criminals and lunatics of them.” Sir William had high praise for the American medical profession. “The profession is improving every day,” lie said. “Each time I go to the United States 1 see obvious signs of progress in the nation generally as well ns medically.”