The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated tho West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1928. A SWEEPING REVIEW.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated tho West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1928. A SWEEPING REVIEW.

It is rather unusual to find nil important metropolitan newspaper reviewing a licensing poll in the sweeping manner the Sydney Daily Telegraph referred to the result of the late prohibition poll in New South Wales. According to the cabled news, the paper said editorially: '“The result of the Australian Prohibition poll is a sign that the times are unfavourable to Prohibition. It has proved a disastrous failure where it has ijcen tried in Europe, and in the Dili ted States it is law, without the force of law. In Australia it has been more, heavily defeated in the States that have been consulted than its advocates have over anticipated. Apparently the Commonwealth will he spared the ex|ierieiice of Canberra, which has proved as in Canada and in New Zealand that the enforcement of Prohibition in the provinces and in the districts is more farcical than is nationwide Prohibition. In the meantime drunkenness is visibly declining wherever there is the minimum of interference with private habits. Upon this, more than upon any schemes of regulation, the believers in true temperance found their hopes.” The views of the paper are interesting not only on the general issue which was at stake, but also In regard to the general outlook of tempera nee. or moderation in the Mother State. One reason, perhaps, for the overwhelming majority against prohibition was the fact that if carried, the country had to pay compensation to the licensees for the loss of their business. This was an acid test which was not acceptable seeing that the estimated cost of compensation was likely to run into many millions of money, and file provision of the huge sum meant additional taxation. However, on the general issue there appears to he a well founded opinion on the subject. Tliis is confirmed by tlie position at Canberra where prohibition existed more or less nominally, under a system of no-license, something akin to the condition of no-license districts in New Zealand. But the comic papers

were always bitting off the wet conditions of Canberra, and the piles of empty bottles which were alleged to be part of the exports from the Federal territory, supposed to bo dry! However, so far, Australian opinion has shown no inclination in favour of prohibitio A vote is due, to be taken in Queensland this! year, and thereafter a local option vote will be taken every seven yca.ru. In Victoria there is it poll on the question every eight years, and the next will be in 1930. South Australia last year decided that licenses should be neither increased nor deoreased, and the last poll taken in Western Australia, a small one, resulted in the defeat of prohibition by 77,000 votes to 41,000. Polls arc taken in Western Australia in every fifth year. Tasmania lias purely local option. The voice of New South Wales which is rangd as tho most progressive state in Australia, will be heard far and wide. As the Daily Telegraph remarks, in respect to prohibition where tried, it is “a law without tho force of law.” People arc too ready to ignore it, because more than any'other law it incroaches on individual liberties, which the people would rather retain as a matter of personal choice. Wherever this attempt at prohibition is made, there is invariably an obvious •breakdown. We see it in the failure to enforce the law affecting gambling—personal tastes will have their sway, irrespective of penalties when individual liberties arc attempted to I© restrained. It is one of the failings, if you will, of human nature—an act of parliament cannot itself make people “good,” and where liberty will have its sway, the law is flouted. The attempt to enforce prohibition. is well evidenced in the I'nitcd States, whence comes many strange stories. One ol I lie latest is per-medium of an Australian Press Association, I'nitcd Service message from Seattle, which states: —“The removal of Prohibition from polities is being recognised as the biggest problem in American life,” expressed tho keynote of the Presidential speech of Mr Silas Strawn to tho American Bar Association Convention. “Bootleggers’ crimes of violenco, and the reckless disregard of the law. especially by young are appalling.” With such an example as appears to be afforded by the United States, New South Wales was apparently more than fortunate to decide for a regulated trade rather than for prohibition which it appears may not lie regulated.