ENFORCEMENT EYEWASH

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1928, Page 3

ENFORCEMENT EYEWASH

RIVAL PARTIES’ PLANKS

One of the pillars of the N.Z. Alliance was lately instructing, with the authority of one who. has never visited America, the statements and opinions of an American visitor. Both the American parties, he said, had put “a prohibition plank” in their platforms. A striking proof, lie said, of the extent to which the

.sentiment in favour of prohibition dominates the country. If the facts were true, it would not be a. testimony of the dominance of prohibition sentiment, but only of the politicians’ anxiety not to antagonise the solid prohibition minority. But it is not true. Both parties have included an “enforcement” plank, because neither could come out und openly stand for breaking \tlie law. Hie law is £lie law, whether it is good or bad, until it is repealed or altered.

Our own judges often enough have said that this or that provision in the law is bad, hut they would not think of ignoring it in their judgments. The inclusion of “enforcement” planks has no significance as to the opinion of the parties or the country on the liquor question. It has this significance, however, that tin' ‘dry’ law has so feeble a root in public feeling that the enforcement of it is not to be taken for granted. Nobody asks either of the parties if it, stands for the enforcement of the law against theft, because that law lias a solid opinion behind it. The Democratic party stands for enforcement, but it lias chosen a candidate who stands for tbe repeal of tbe Volstead Act and the liberation of America from the tyranny of the bootlegger and his creator, the prohibitionist.