ART OF SMUGGLING

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1930, Page 2

ART OF SMUGGLING

NOT LOST TO BRITONS

LONDON, April 17

The British seaman is a hue fellow, but no one lias ever considered him to be above a little smuggling now and then, particularly it it is to be done under th© nose of a powerful though friendly foreign nation. Several rather unpleasant incidents when British boats have been fired on by suspicious American coastguards have confirmed the impression that the art of smuggling is by no means lost. But Mr Alaetjfiiisten, member for Argyll, protests that the number of British seaman who are engaged in this traffic is infinitesimal, and' in any ease , “let the United States deal with them,” says Mr MacQuisten. , “Arc wo going to impinge on the freedom of the seas?”

The spirited deflate in which Mr MacQuisten took so large a share followed on the Liberal member for Bodmin (Mr Isaac Foot) moving for leave under the ten minutes rule to introduce a Bill to amend the Merchant Shipping Act (1894) so as to enable the Board of Trade to suspend or cancel th.n certificate of any master, mate or engineer engaged in the illicit importation of intoxicating liquor into ; the United - States .of America. The Bill was stated to hav© the support of members of all parties and a similar measure liafl been passed by the Dominion of Canada. Since Prohibition , was first ( , established in the United. States ten years ago there had been collaboration between law-

less!elements in that country an,d lawless elements b.utside, .including British subjects, ap'd illicit traffic, though considerably reduced, still went on. The British flag was being used to defeat a policy which had been declared by both Conservative and Labour Ministers to be an essentially British policy. It would be a gesture of friendship to the United States, and would help to restore the lowered reputation or this country. Mr MacQiiisten’s plea that we were not extensively concerned in the illicit traffic was countered by a statement that a Tory member had been involved in a lawsuit in connection with this traffic. . With regard to the. action of the Canadian Parliament, Mr MacQuisten said, the case was entirely different, as a very lucrative' trade was done in smuggling liquor across the 'border. The people who were '.breaking the law were the Americaji, citizens 'themselves. Everyone in the United States knew that the .whole thing was a gigantic imposture and only a few hysterical males and females believed in it. Why should we manufacture a crime because a few British seamen chose to break the law of the United States ? In alluding to an interjection by Lady Astor, Mr MacQuisten referred to her difficulty in retaining her seat at the last election and his conviction tliat she would it at the next, adding: “I should be sorry to lose her’ because she is the one bright spot of colour in a very drab institution.” .He concluded by saying that it was preposterous that Parliament should bqther about points so trivial as the one they were now discussing.. In spite of Mr MacQuisten’,s outburst of independence against the ever-increasing influence of th© United States, which is what it seems to have amounted to, on a division leave was granted by. 215 votes to, 142 and the Bill Mas brought'in' and read a first.time,■; backed by Lady /Vstor: hnd Sir Robert Newman We understand that Commander Kenworthy, M.P., has been in communication with the professional organisations of masters, mates and engineers in this country, and has been assured that they have no objection to the Bill. The real oblectors will no doubt lie citizens of the United States who will have in pay more for their drinks and in some . cases may be deprived of their host bootlegger.

It remains to lie seen whether they will, understand the fiill beauty and significance of this “friendly gesture.”