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Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1928, Page 4

During the week there were local addresses from the anti-liquor viewpoint, but nothing that was now was said. Tli vices to which weak Immunity is heir 100 are not to bo cured merely by semiring a stall* of prohibition by law. Since the days of the decalogue prohibition against vices corrupting the world has been in force fortified' as it Inis been by laws in all climes. But the crimes recur despite the pains and penalties enforced against offenders. The point is that mere prohibition in itself is not n sufficient deterrent. Tn I lie case of prohibition against liquor; if we study the situation in the United States wo find that there has been a serious revolt against law and order. The law is openly broken in quite a nationwide way, and from the controversy now proceeding it would appear America is moving towards a repeal, or at all events a modification of the prohibition law. There is no doubt that in the experience of nations where it lias been tried, prohibition has fostered vice by driving the trade in liquor underground. This has . been manifested all too seriously in America, where the record of serious crimes and (lie numerous deaths make arresting reading. Prohibition is supposed to protect homo-life, but rnfiller with the facilities for inquisitorial officialism does it destroy the privacy of the home and adds a new terror to life. The cost in a national way of introducing and enforcing prohibition must be very great. Tn the United States figures are published from time to time which reveal a staggering total. If something in proportion were to happen to New Zealand, on top of the revenue to be lost, an extra burden of taxation would fall inevitably on the. people. And while the enforcement of prohibition is under review it is interesting to recall that the boot-legging element of America, is the source of strongest support for prohibition, because of the lucrative. returns from the underground trading. And in this connection prohibition is said to have been responsible for more new forms of iniquity than any other law. A study of the conditions created in America naturally raises alarm as to the possible effect on New Zealand were the step towards prohibition to he taken by the electors, ft is a many sided issue, for many aspects are brought into account, we know, as we have said at the outset, that the mere making of the law will not secure prohibition. Something more practical in the way of real temperance should he advocated, and thereby step by step the vice of overdrinking should he lessened. As a means to an end prohibition is destined to serious failure, a failure which would bring more serious consequences in its train for both the people and the nation.