TOUR OF AMERICA

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1931, Page 6

TOUR OF AMERICA

MR J. S. FLETCHER’S IMPRESSIONS. AUCKLAND, January 23. After a tour of Canada and the United States of America,. Mr J. S. Fletcher, ALP. for Grey Lyon, who returned by the Niagara, expressed the opinion that prohibition, as implied by the term, was non-existent in America. “Prohibition has simply never been tried in America,” lie said. Mr Fletcher said that despite the recognised failure of the authorities to put the Prohibition Act into operation, what had actually been achieved was the abolition of the saloon. There seemed to lie a growing feeling in America, however, in favour of what was being done in Canada, namely, State control, particularly in the sale of light liquors. “Economic conditions in the States seem to be far from good if one judges from the number of people who are unemployed,” said Mr Fletcher. “The authorities admit there are 5.000,001) persons unemployed, and when pressed, did not deny that the figure might he nearer 8,000.000, and there is no sign

of improvement in the economic situation. There is a realisation, however, that America must disperse its gold reserve before the economic conditions can improve.”